14-07-2014, 07:03 PM
41
Re: Microchipping Deadline
From one of our local papers today.Government sets out plans to ban sale of dogs and cats.
Work on the bill began late last year with the minister for Agriculture, Food and Environment, Miguel Arias Canete, stating that his department are working towards protecting the animals.
The legislation would set out a series of restrictions and responsibilities to establish the basic rules on trade and dog and cat ownership, with regular inspections and controls for compliance, and establishing a system of offences and penalties.
In this draft which is set to be presented shortly, the law will only relate to dogs and cats, with the exception of "animals owned by the Ministries of Defence and the Interior and its autonomous bodies or assigned to the Security Forces and local police".
Specifically featured in the bill are laws to prevent the mistreatment and torture of animals, in fact any action that resuls in the unnecessary harm to dogs and cats, including abandoning them, fighting, amputation of the ears or tail and parts thereof, the use for public entertainment or advertising that may cause distress, pain or suffering, using the animals for bait and killing cats and dogs with the express and authorised veterinary euthanasia methods.
Fundamentally, the text also states that "the marketing of animals in pet stores in prohibited, as well as exhibitions and display to the public for commercial purposes", thus banning the sale of these animals from pet shops. In addition, attempting to sell, donate or give up for adoption a dog or cat without identification by microchip will be prohibited. Owners of dogs and cats as well as shelters for abandoned pets, are subject to obligations to ensure the welfare of animals, which must have an identification microchip.
The financial penalties for breaking the law range from 100 to 3,000 euro for serious offences and between 30,000 and 200,000 euro for those classed as very serious offences.
Within that "very serious" category includes killing a cat or dog if not for approved reasons of animal welfare and animal health, public health, environmental or public order, using animals for fighting, neglect resulting in death, mutilations and the sale of animals in pet stores.
14-07-2014, 08:16 PM
42
Re: Microchipping Deadline
Ban the sale of dogs and cats? Isn't that going way too far? What about breeding for show? This is quite a big business and a hobby for some. What will happen to purebreds and breed specimens? Also.. Some breed standards require the docking or cropping of ears and or tails. I certainly agree with protecting animals from abuse but this seems to go beyond the pale.
14-07-2014, 09:19 PM
44
Re: Microchipping Deadline
Originally Posted by Celyn
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It doesn't actually state in the article that they ban the sale of dogs and cats. There will be strict restrictions and ban their sale in pet shops. This is something that already happens in the UK, plus madatory microchipping.
Oh.. ok. We have many cities that have banned the sale of cats and especially dogs from pet shops because of the problem of Puppy Mills..
14-07-2014, 10:53 PM
45
Re: Microchipping Deadline
Microchipping dogs has been law here for a long time but of course it doesn´t always happen. The new laws "should" hopefully make a big difference. We won´t see people on markets with puppies in cardboard boxes, at least I hope not. Docking ears and tails will only be done on veterinary advice, and that is as it should be, at least in my opinion, and I´m certainly in favour of those huge fines for people who come into the "very serious" offenders.|
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