Within the new Animal Welfare Law that comes into force on 29 September 2023, there is reference to the Positive List of Companion Animals. In other words, it is a list of animals that are permitted to be kept as pets, thus there will be some animals that will not be allowed.
In the run up to the law entering into force, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation, as is perhaps inevitable, with reports that rabbits can no longer be kept as pets, or that goldfish have more rights than humans, for example, but the truth regarding the list of animals you can keep as pets is that at this stage, we don’t actually know. We have to wait for the list to be published, but it is unlikely to exclude animals we would normally consider suitable, like rabbits, and is more likely to exclude more exotic species.
The reason we don’t yet know is however explained in the law, as it says, “Within a maximum period of twenty-four months from the entry into force of this law, the Government will approve the regulation that develops the positive list of wild animals that can be kept as pets, provided for in Chapter V of Title II”.
So even after the law enters into force, it could well be 2 years before we know the content of that list.
The law also states, “Within a maximum period of twelve months from the entry into force of the aforementioned regulation, the Government will publish the list of species of wild mammals that are included in the positive list of companion animals as established in article 37”.
And finally, “Within a maximum period of thirty months from the entry into force of the aforementioned regulation, the Government will publish the list of species of other groups of wild animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates) that are included in the positive list of wild animals. company as established in article 37”.
If you would like more in-depth information, there is a website which has translated the entire legislation into English. You can read the full Animal Welfare Law at animalwelfarelaw.es
In addition, we have partnered with three local companies who can offer you tailor made advice, and provide some of the services which will be mandatory under the new law.
If you need more information about pet health or civil liability insurance, you can contact Jennifer Cunningham Insurances, who have local offices in Benijofar, La Marina, and Playa Flamenca. Their telephone number is 965 795 372, and you can visit their website at https://www.jennifercunningham.net/, or via Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/JCExpatServices/
For anything related to pet health and services such as sterilisation of microchipping, amongst others, you can contact Veterinary Clinic Eduardo’s Pets, located near Las Filipinas, Villamartin, on the Orihuela Costa. Their telephone number is 966 76 41 09, and you can visit their website at https://www.eduardospetsvet.com/, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Eduardospets/
For pet supplies, such as kennels, you can contact Madagascar Pets Pet Center Ciudad Quesada, located in Doña Pepa, near the Aldi and Food Co “Tesco” supermarkets. Their telephone number is 966 73 13 50, and their website is https://madagascarmascotas.com/tiendas/madagascar-mascotas-ciudad-quesada/
Please be sure to tell them you found out about them via TKO Radio, and they will do their best to answer any questions you might have, and play their part in ensuring you are both compliant with the new Animal Welfare Law, and that your pet has the best care and facilities.
