Abandonment, strays and what the law says

Terms used

• Protectora — A protectora is a registered private animal shelter or rescue group that takes in and rehomes unwanted animals.
• Policía Local — The Policía Local is the town's local police force, which you can call to report a found animal.
• Perrera — The perrera is the municipal shelter where found stray dogs and cats are held.
• Gatos comunitarios — Gatos comunitarios are free-living stray cats in a managed colony, cared for under local council rules.

Key rules

• Abandonment fine: Abandoning a pet carries fines from 10,001 to 50,000 euros, and prison is possible in serious cases.
• Giving up a pet: Rehome it, hand it to a registered shelter, or surrender it to the municipal animal service, and record the transfer.
• Found stray: Secure it, tell the police or municipal animal service, and have the chip scanned rather than keeping it quietly.
• Feeding cats: Feed street cats only if you are registered or authorised as a colony carer.

What happens if you abandon a pet

Abandoning a pet is a very serious infraction, with fines from 10,001 to 50,000 euros. Lesser animal-welfare infractions run from 500 to 10,000 euros. Your region may add its own sanctions, so levels can differ.

It can also be a crime. If you abandon a domestic or tame animal in conditions that endanger its life or health, the penalty is 3 to 12 months in prison or a fine. You can also be barred from jobs or activities involving animals for 3 months to 2 years. Mistreatment is punished more heavily still.

If you cannot keep your pet

Leaving the animal behind is never an option. Use one of three lawful routes:

• Rehome it directly with a new person.
• Hand it to a registered shelter (protectora).
• Surrender it to the municipal animal service.

Whichever you choose, the change of owner must be recorded in the regional animal registry and the chip holder's details updated. Shelters usually ask for the chip number, the vaccination record and your ID. Municipal shelters may charge a fee or nothing. Private rescues often ask for a donation. Fees and waiting lists vary, so ask the shelter or your town hall first. Selling or giving away animals for profit is restricted.

If you find a stray dog or cat

Do these things in order:

1. Make the animal safe. If there is danger, call 112.
2. Tell the local police (Policía Local) or the municipal animal service.
3. Have a vet or the authorities scan for a microchip. They can look up the owner in the regional registry.
4. The animal normally goes to the municipal shelter (perrera). The shelter holds it for a legal period, commonly at least 20 days, so the owner can claim it. The period varies by council and region.
5. If nobody claims it, ask the shelter whether you can adopt it.

Do not keep a stray quietly. It may belong to someone, and you could face problems for not telling the authorities.

Stray cats and feeding

Spain recognises community cats (gatos comunitarios). Councils manage these colonies by capturing, sterilising and returning the cats, run by authorised groups. You may feed them only if you are registered or authorised as a colony carer, and you must follow local rules on where and how. Feeding without authorisation can bring a local fine. Ask your town hall how to register.

You may take in a stray cat. Check for a chip and tell the authorities first. Then have the cat chipped, registered, vaccinated and sterilised in your name.

The checklist, timeline and warnings below repeat these steps in short form.

Choosing between options

How do you lawfully give up a pet you can no longer keep?

• Rehome it directly to a new person: You know someone who will take the pet and care for it. Do not sell it or give it away for profit, which is restricted.

• Hand it to a registered shelter (protectora): You cannot find a person yourself. Private rescues often ask for a donation and may have a waiting list.

• Surrender it to the municipal animal service: You want an official route through your council. It may charge a fee or none, depending on the council.

Never leave the pet behind. Whichever route you pick, update the regional animal registry and the chip holder details so the transfer is recorded.

Timeline and deadlines

• Secure the animal safely and call the local police (Policía Local) or the municipal animal service; call 112 if there is danger: As soon as you find the animal

• Have a vet or the authorities scan the microchip and look up the owner in the regional registry: Right after you secure the animal

• Ask the shelter to let you adopt the animal: If the owner is not found after the holding period

• Chip, register, vaccinate and sterilise a stray cat you take in, in your name: After you have scanned for a chip and notified the authorities

Checklist

• Secure the stray dog or cat somewhere safe before you do anything else.

• Call the local police (Policía Local) or the municipal animal service to report the animal, or 112 if there is danger.

• Ask a vet or the authorities to scan the microchip so the owner can be found.

• Hand the animal to the municipal shelter (perrera) instead of keeping it quietly.

• Ask the shelter about adopting the animal if the owner does not come forward.

• Register as a colony carer with your town hall before you feed stray cats.

• Rehome your pet directly, or hand it to a registered shelter (protectora) or the municipal animal service, if you can no longer keep it.

• Bring the chip number, vaccination record and your ID when you surrender a pet.

What to watch out for

• Abandoning a pet carries fines and possible prison: Abandoning a pet is a very serious infraction, with fines from 10,001 to 50,000 euros. It can also be a crime if the animal is left in conditions that endanger its life: 3 to 12 months in prison or a fine, plus a ban from jobs or activities involving animals for 3 months to 2 years. If you cannot keep your pet, rehome it or hand it to a registered shelter or the municipal animal service instead.

• Keeping a stray without telling the authorities: The animal may belong to someone, and keeping it without notifying the authorities can cause problems for you. Report the animal to the Policía Local or the municipal animal service and have the chip scanned first.

• Feeding stray cats without authorisation: Only registered or authorised colony carers may feed community cats, and unauthorised feeding can be fined under local rules.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a shelter keep a found stray before you can adopt it?

A shelter commonly holds a found stray for at least 20 days so the owner can reclaim it. If nobody claims the animal after that, you can usually ask the shelter to let you adopt it. The exact period depends on your council and region.

Can you feed stray cats in your street?

You can feed stray cats only if you are authorised or registered as a colony carer (a person who looks after a community cat colony).

Do you have to pay to hand your pet to a shelter?

It depends on the shelter: municipal shelters may charge a fee or nothing, and private rescues often ask for a donation. Bring the chip number, vaccination record and your ID. Ask about fees and waiting lists before you go.

What must you do after taking in a stray cat?

Once you have scanned for a chip and notified the authorities, the cat must be chipped, registered, vaccinated and sterilised in your name. Do these steps with a vet so the registry shows you as the owner.