Valencian Animal Welfare Law
Click here to see the law in Spanish
There are two main laws concerned with the protection of animals that can be applied to animals in the Valencian state community – the Penal Code (Codigo Penal), which covers all of Spain, and Ley 4/94 Generalitat Valenciana. The most relevant points of each are outlined below.
The penal code is concerned with criminal law and infractions of the penal code are the responsibility of the police. Law 4/94, which is the more comprehensive of the two laws, is civil law and it is the responsibility of the relevant town hall to take action under this law. Law 4/94 applies to companion animals only.
Penal Code
Article 337
Those who cruelly and unjustifiably maltreat domestic animals causing their death or provoking injuries that produce serious physical damage will be penalised with a prison sentence of between three months and one year and a special ban from one to three years against carrying out professions, offices or commerce related to animals.
Law 4/94 of the Generalitat Valenciana
Article 4
It is prohibited to:
a) Destroy animals without necessity or justifiable cause, or in any way that causes physical or psychological suffering.
b) Maltreat animals or force them in any practice that could cause unnecessary or unjustifiable injuries or suffering.
c) Abandon animals.
d) Keep them in conditions that are improper from the point of view of hygiene, or inadequate for the administration of the care and attention necessary for their needs according to species.
e) Practice mutilations, except those controlled by veterinary surgeons.
f) Not administer feed necessary for normal development.
h) Administer drugs, medicine or feed that contains substances that could cause suffering, serious disturbances that alter natural physiological development or cause death, except as controlled by veterinary surgeons in case of necessity.
l) To use companion animals in spectacles, fights, fiestas and other activities that involve cruelty or maltreatment, could cause them death or suffering or subject them to unnatural or degrading treatments.
m) To keep animals in places where one cannot exercise adequate care and vigilance.
Article 21
Town halls are able to remove animals if there are indications of maltreatment or torture, if they show
signs of physical abuse or malnutrition, if they
are found in inadequate installations, or if they are diagnosed or believed to be suffering from illnesses transmissible to people, when they will be to forced to undergo adequate curative treatment or be destroyed
if necessary.
Article 27
1. Infractions of the current Law will be sanctioned with fines between 5,000 and 3,000,000 pesetas
2. The resolution’s sanctions include the confiscation of animals concerned with the infraction.
Click here to see the law in Spanish