Animal Law Blog
30/04/2026
Responsible statement for breeders: intervene when the damage is already done
By Maria GonzalezIn March 2026, the draft royal decree on zoological facilities for companion animals, a key regulation for animal breeding, was submitted for public comment. The use of a declaration of responsibility as a means of commencing operations has drawn criticism due to its potential inadequacy in ensuring effective and preventative control of animal welfare.
24/04/2026
Habeas corpus as an animal defense strategy: the North American experience
By Miguel DonateThe recognition of animals as sentient beings raises a new legal challenge: whether they can also be subjects of law. This text analyzes this debate, its attempts in the courts, and possible alternative models.
13/03/2026
Tenders for the management of animal collection, shelter and care are met with indifference from the Administration
By Amparo Requena Three years have passed since the Animal Protection Law came into effect, but many municipalities continue to fail to meet their obligations. Particularly worrying is the contracting of animal collection and care services, which in many cases are awarded to for-profit companies with no experience, ignoring the legal priority of professional and reputable organizations. The author analyzes how these breaches affect both the animals and the public animal protection service.
09/03/2026
Animal welfare in Catalonia: evolution of public awareness for the protection of pets
By Inmaculada CastellsLaw 7/2023 and regional and municipal regulations have reinforced responsible pet ownership, requiring owners to control, sanitize and guarantee the well-being of their pets, while the city seeks to reconcile animal care and neighborhood coexistence through clear rules, adequate resources and preventive advice.
20/02/2026
Multi-species families gain ground: courts prioritize animal welfare
By Olga OrtizSince the introduction of article 94 bis of the Civil Code by Law 17/2021 and the development of Law 7/2023 on the protection of the rights and welfare of animals, the courts increasingly value the bond with their human reference and, above all, the physical and mental well-being of the animal when deciding on its care in contexts of family crisis.
13/02/2026
The farewell of a colleague
By Aina ParedesIs animal grief still an invisible reality to our legal system? The author began her professional career accompanied by a puppy that grew up with her amidst courtrooms, prisons, defeats, and victories. A few weeks ago, she had to say goodbye to him. From this contrast—between intimate grief and legal indifference—she now enters this debate.
06/02/2026
Dog grooming salons: trimming whiskers, a matter of whiskers
By Francisca GutiérrezTrimming whiskers—the hair on the whiskers—a common and rarely questioned practice, affects essential sensory structures. When done without veterinary justification, it ceases to be merely an aesthetic matter and becomes a welfare issue and a matter of legal responsibility.
02/02/2026
"They're family"
By Isabel GarcíaIn major disasters, the urgency to save human lives often relegates animals to a secondary concern. The case of Boro, the dog lost after the Adamuz train accident, has reopened the debate about how we view—and how we act upon—animal suffering in extreme situations.
16/01/2026
“The dog is registered in my name”: why this argument is no longer valid after a breakup
By Covadonga Díaz"I'm keeping the dog." That comment reveals something worrying: a legally outdated idea. Because today, after the reform of the Civil Code, animals are no longer objects to be divided or emotional weapons in a breakup, and it's worth remembering that.
09/01/2026
The reality of hunting in Catalonia: fewer hunters and more municipalities that prohibit it
By Irene JiménezAlthough more than 90% of Catalan territory is designated as hunting grounds, hunting is now a clearly minority activity: only 0,4% of the population held a license in 2023. However, far from decreasing, the number of animals killed has continued to grow, as have the public subsidies allocated to this practice.
05/12/2025
“Criminal defense of feline colonies: when caregivers become targets of conflicts”
By María Girona Volunteers who care for cat colonies assume a responsibility that legally belongs to the authorities, but they often face penalties and conflicts. A recent ruling in Elche recognizes their vulnerability and sets a key precedent in the criminal defense of those who protect urban cats.
28/11/2025
Pets and vicarious violence
By Ana GarneloLaw 17/2021 and the reforms to the Civil Code recognize companion animals as sentient beings, expanding their protection, including in family law. A recent ruling in Las Palmas applies, for the first time, the perspective of vicarious violence through an animal, marking a milestone in the judicial protection of animals and the gender perspective.
20/11/2025
The private prosecution and its uncertain future
By Maite BautistaThe Government has approved the processing of the new Criminal Procedure Law, which will come into force in 2028. The text represents a serious setback in the criminal protection of animals: it prohibits public prosecution in cases of mistreatment and abandonment, introduces dismissal for lack of opportunity, limits the Victim's Statute and excludes public prosecutions from enforcement.
Animals, their rights and the rules that govern our coexistence with them. A meeting point to talk about one of the branches of Law with the greatest growth in recent times. Authors: Commissions, Groups and specialized Sections of the Colleges of Alcalá de Henares, Alicante, Badajoz, the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Bizkaia, Córdoba, Girona, Granada, Granollers, Jaén, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, León, Madrid, Málaga, Manresa, Mataró, Murcia, Oviedo, Reus, Sabadell, Sant Feliú de Llobregat, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Seville, Tarragona, Terrassa, Tortosa, Valencia, Zaragoza, the Spanish Confederation of Young Lawyers (CEAJ) and Jove Advocacia de Catalunya (JAC).
New articles
30 April 2026 Responsible statement for breeders: intervene when the damage is already done
24 April 2026 Habeas corpus as an animal defense strategy: the North American experience
9 March, 2026 Animal welfare in Catalonia: evolution of public awareness for the protection of pets
20 February, 2026 Multi-species families gain ground: courts prioritize animal welfare