What Spain's 2023 animal-welfare law requires of dog owners

Key rules

• In force: The national law has applied since 29 September 2023, but the course, insurance and registries are staged.
• Alone: Never leave your dog alone for long periods; the law refers to a maximum of 24 hours.
• Fines: Fines run from 500 to 200,000 euros, and abandonment is classed as very serious.
• Regional rules: Your region and town can add stricter duties on top of the national law.

The short version

Spain has one national animal-welfare law, in force since 29 September 2023. It sets the minimum duties for every dog owner. Your region and your town hall can add to them, so you always need to check local rules too.

When it applies

The law was published on 29 March 2023 and entered into force six months later, on 29 September 2023. The basic duties of care, microchip and registration apply from that date. Some duties are staged: the owner training course, liability insurance and the national registries depend on implementing rules or transition periods, generally one to two years from entry into force. Ask your regional animal-welfare office which of these already apply where you live. The timeline below shows the stages.

What you must do as an owner

• Meet your dog's needs. Food, water, shelter, veterinary care, exercise and company.
• Microchip and register your dog. Dogs and cats must be identified with a microchip and registered.
• Take the owner course. You must take a free course on responsible ownership before having a dog. There are exemptions.
• Hold liability insurance. Owners must have civil liability cover for their dog.
• Keep your dog on a leash in public spaces, except in areas where dogs are allowed off-leash.
• Pick up excrement and report a lost animal.

What you must not do

• Never abandon an animal.
• Do not leave a dog alone for long periods. The law refers to a maximum of 24 hours.
• Do not keep an animal permanently tied up, or leave it on a terrace, patio or in a vehicle.
• Do not allow mutilations such as tail docking, ear cropping or declawing.
• Do not breed dogs as a private individual without registration.

If you also have a cat, it should be sterilised unless it is registered for breeding.

Penalties

Fines depend on how serious the breach is:

• Minor: 500 to 10,000 euros.
• Serious: 10,001 to 50,000 euros.
• Very serious: 50,001 to 200,000 euros.

Abandonment is very serious. Serious cases can also bring confiscation of the animal, a ban on keeping animals, or closure of an establishment. Criminal liability is separate and can apply on top of fines. Your region applies the fines.

How regional rules sit on top

The national law is a floor. Regions keep their own animal-protection laws and can be stricter or add duties. Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia and Galicia are examples. Regions and towns also run the registries, enforce fines and set local bylaws, for example on leashes and public spaces.

To check your rules, look at your regional animal-protection law, the regional government's animal-welfare department, and your town hall's ordinances. Regional laws are being adapted to the national law, so make sure you read the current text.

Next steps

Work through the checklist below. If your dog may count as potentially dangerous, extra licence, insurance and muzzle rules apply, so ask your town hall.

Timeline and deadlines

• The law enters into force, with the basic duties of care, microchip and registration: 29 September 2023, six months after publication

Legal checklist for a new dog owner in Spain

Your first weeks as a dog owner

• Ask your vet to check that your dog has a microchip and that the chip is registered in your name.

• Ask your town hall or regional animal register whether you must register your dog, and by what date.

• Ask your town hall whether your dog needs liability insurance, and keep the policy certificate with your dog's papers.

• Check with your regional animal-welfare office whether an owner training course is required, and book it if it is.

• Plan your daily routine so your dog is not left alone for long stretches, and ask your town hall about any local limits.

• Find out your town's rules on leashes and public spaces before your first walks.

• Check whether your dog counts as potentially dangerous, and if so follow the licence, insurance, muzzle and leash rules explained in the licence article.

• Keep the chip record, vet records, registration and insurance papers together in one folder.

Registration, insurance and course rules vary by region and town, so confirm each point with your town hall or regional animal-welfare office.

Frequently asked questions

When did the 2023 animal-welfare law start to apply to dog owners?

The law entered into force on 29 September 2023, six months after it was published on 29 March 2023. Some duties, such as the owner training course, liability insurance and the national registries, are phased in through later rules or transitional periods of generally one to two years.

What fines can I get under the animal-welfare law?

Fines run from 500 to 10,000 euros for minor infringements, 10,001 to 50,000 euros for serious ones and 50,001 to 200,000 euros for very serious ones. Extra penalties can include confiscation of the animal and a ban on keeping animals.

Can my region's rules be stricter than the national animal-welfare law?

Yes, regions can keep or pass stricter laws, because the national law is only a minimum baseline. Regions and town halls also run the registries and apply the fines. Check your regional animal-protection law, your regional government's animal welfare department and your town hall's local bylaws.