Everyday life with a pet

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. After reading, you will know where your pet can go, how buildings and neighbours affect pet ownership, what a pet costs, and how to travel or arrange care.

Start with "Taking your dog on trains, beaches and into public places". It covers the rules you meet first, on the street, on public transport and at the beach.

From there, read what suits your situation:

• "Can your building's owners' community limit pets?" if you rent or own a home in a shared building.
• "Adopting or buying a pet in Spain" if you do not have a pet yet.
• "What owning a pet costs in Spain" if you are budgeting.
• "Travelling from Spain with your pet" and "Who looks after your pet when you travel" if you plan trips.

Key rules

• Pets per traveller: You can travel with a maximum of five dogs, cats or ferrets, unless they are going to a competition or exhibition.
• Rabies wait: After the first rabies vaccination, your pet must wait 21 days before it can travel to another EU country.
• Tapeworm treatment: Dogs going to the UK, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway need tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival.
• Leash and waste: Keep your dog under control and always pick up its waste; your town's ordinance sets where a leash is compulsory.
• Beaches: Dogs are generally banned on urban beaches in the bathing season, but many towns have dog beaches or allow dogs out of season.
• Registered statutes: A pet ban is safest to rely on only if it appears in the statutes registered with the Property Registry.

Everyday life with a pet: the whole process, step by step

• Choose your pet: adopt from a shelter or buy from a registered breeder (Adopting or buying a pet in Spain): before you bring the animal home; refuse a puppy younger than 8 weeks

• Check the building's pet rules and learn local leash, waste and beach rules (Can your building's owners' community limit pets?; Taking your dog on trains, beaches and into public places): as soon as your pet moves in

• Book kennel or sitter care for summer, Easter or Christmas (Who looks after your pet when you travel): 2 to 3 months ahead

• Book kennel or sitter care for other holiday periods: at least 4 to 8 weeks ahead; for the rest of the year, 2 to 4 weeks is usually enough

• Give the kennel cough vaccine if the kennel asks for it: at least 2 to 4 weeks before the stay

• Microchip your pet, then give the first rabies vaccination (Travelling from Spain with your pet): when your pet is at least 12 weeks old, well before any trip

• Wait before you travel to another EU country: 21 days after the first rabies vaccination

• For the UK, get an Animal Health Certificate from an authorised vet: normally within 10 days before entry

• Have your dog's tapeworm treatment given by a vet if you go to the UK, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway: between 24 and 120 hours before arrival

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Your ID — Who looks after your pet when you travel, Adopting or buying a pet in Spain
• EU pet passport for trips to another EU country — Travelling from Spain with your pet

The home and the lease

• Adoption contract — Adopting or buying a pet in Spain
• Written contract and health record from a breeder — Adopting or buying a pet in Spain

Other documents

• Rabies vaccination record — Travelling from Spain with your pet
• Animal Health Certificate for Great Britain — Travelling from Spain with your pet
• Vet's record of tapeworm treatment for dogs going to the UK — Travelling from Spain with your pet
• Health certificate for the destination country — Travelling from Spain with your pet
• Health document — Who looks after your pet when you travel
• ISO microchip registration for your dog or cat — Who looks after your pet when you travel
• Proof of recent internal and external deworming — Who looks after your pet when you travel
• Veterinary health certificate and vaccination record for the animal you buy — Adopting or buying a pet in Spain

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Everyday life with a pet: questions that cross several articles

Who decides the rules for dogs in public places in Spain?

A national law sets the baseline, but your town's ordinance decides the practical rules. Owners must keep control of their dog and clean up its waste everywhere. Leash rules, off-leash areas and fines vary by town.

Can I take my dog to the beach in Spain?

Usually not on urban beaches during the bathing season, which runs roughly from May or June to September or October. Many towns allow dogs out of season, often on a leash, and some have dog beaches open all year. Read Taking your dog on trains, beaches and into public places, and ask your town hall.

How much is the fine for not picking up dog waste or not leashing a dog?

The fine depends on your town, which classes these as minor or serious breaches with rising scales. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla each set their own. Check your town's ordinance, and read Taking your dog on trains, beaches and into public places.

How much should I budget for adoption and boarding?

Shelters typically ask for a donation of 50 to 200 euros for a dog and 30 to 100 euros for a cat, which usually covers the microchip, vaccines and a health check. Kennel prices vary with region, animal size and season, so get local quotes. Read Adopting or buying a pet in Spain and What owning a pet costs in Spain.

Will the vaccines I need for travel also cover kennel boarding?

Partly, because both need a microchip and an up-to-date rabies vaccination. Kennels often add more, such as the kennel cough vaccine given 2 to 4 weeks before the stay, so ask your kennel.

Fines, train fares and kennel prices differ by town and company, so confirm current figures locally before you plan.