How much can you be fined for abandoning your pet in summer?

For yet another year, the number of abandoned pets in Spain is unfortunately on the rise during the summer, a problem that the authorities are trying to combat with severe penalties. Penalties for animal abandonment can range from €500 to €50,000, depending on the severity of the case. We remind you that Spanish legislation addresses animal abuse and neglect in both criminal and administrative law, with the aim of protecting animals and reducing the incidence of these inhumane acts.

Punishments for animal abandonment

Law 7/2023 of 28 March on the protection of animal rights and welfare describes legal mechanisms to promote animal protection and prevent abandonment. This law is a significant step towards the elimination of animal abuse and neglect in Spain, establishing a common framework throughout Spain and punishing offences according to their seriousness: 

Minor offences: reprimand or fine of €500 up to €10,000. These offences may include situations where the owner fails to carry out basic obligations of care and maintenance of the pet.

Serious infringements: A fine of €10,000 to €50,000. Serious offences cover acts of deliberate neglect or severe mistreatment that endanger the life and welfare of the animal.

In some of the cases it is not only abandonment, many of the pets are found with clear signs of mistreatment which carry more severe penalties. 

Animal abuse in the Penal Code

Animal abuse in Spain is stipulated in the Penal Code, which punishes these crimes with severe penalties to guarantee their protection:

In the situation of mistreatment, prison sentences of 3 to 18 months or a fine of 6 to 12 months are foreseen, in addition to special disqualification of 1 to 3 years to exercise professions related to animals.

If the mistreatment results in the death of the animal, the penalties are increased to imprisonment of 12 to 24 months and special disqualification from working with animals for 2 to 4 years.

If you notice an animal in a state of abandonment or mistreatment, it is advisable to contact the police, Guardia Civil or an animal protection organisation that will act accordingly.

Legal obligations

Owning a pet implies a series of legal obligations regulated by regional and municipal laws. In general, all pet owners must comply with the following basic rules:

- Electronic identification. The animal must carry an approved microchip, which allows it to be located and recovered in the event of loss or theft. This system is essential to ensure that animals are not abandoned without traceability.

- Official health booklet. It is compulsory to have a health record for the pet, where all vaccinations and veterinary treatments are recorded. This guarantees that the animal's health is under control and that diseases that could also affect people are prevented.

- Registration in the municipal census register. This must be done within three months of the animal's birth or thirty days of its acquisition. The owner must provide his or her name, address, telephone number and ID number, as well as the animal's details such as species, breed, sex, date of birth, identification code and usual address.