[Animals] End to the list of dangerous dogs: with the new regulations the behavior of each animal will be observed

[#Steeven.™]

A mechanism will be established to validate the behavior of each animal, regardless of its breed, to assess the danger of the dog.

The behavior of each animal will weigh on its breed to avoid "unfair" prejudices. That is the essence of the new regulations that the Government is preparing and that will end the lists of potentially dangerous dogs.

It is a draft law to modify Law 50/99 on potentially dangerous animals. They hope to present it in May and with it look at the individual behavior of companion animals without taking into account "the specific breed with which they were born" and thus avoid "unfair" prejudices.

The standard will establish a behavior validation mechanism for each horse. In addition, it foresees that dogs that need some "particular handling" should be educated with behavior improvement techniques so that they stop being dangerous.

This has been stated by the general director of Animal Rights of the Government, Sergio García Torres, in a conference organized by the Royal Spanish Canine Society (RSCE) in which he has also explained the regulatory changes that the Animal Welfare law will entail prepared by the Executive .
Precisely, during the day, the Royal Canine Society of Spain has requested a new Law that universalizes canine identification, education of children and young people in values that promote respect and animal empathy, protection and promotion of autochthonous breeds and recognition of the work of ethical and responsible breeders.

 

Homogenize 17 regulations

One of the challenges faced by this draft is to standardize the 17 regional regulations to establish a common general framework and, in turn, include a 'System of Animal Protection Records' (SRPA), of which different identification systems will be part.

Among them, a registry of animal welfare centers will be created, by which the professionalism of the sector will be guaranteed; that of the collection of abandoned animals or animal protection entities.

Likewise, a National Registry of Canine Behavior and Education Professionals will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Labor and Education, so that a training framework will be established so that professionals can join it in a regulated manner and for clients can access professionals with a "guarantee".

Another of the "key pieces" of the regulation will be the obligation to identify companion animals before they can be bought and within the first three months of life so that the breeding is controlled, while a National Registry of Disqualification for the Keeping of Companion Animals, which will include all those convicted of abuse, who may not register any animal in their name.

 

Tougher penalties for abusers

The bill also plans to modify the civil code to recognize that animals are sentient beings in line with the Lisbon Treaty, as well as another modification of the Penal Code to update the penalties for crimes of animal abuse upwards since the current ones are they are "quite lax" since the maximum is 18 months.

Likewise, the general director has added that they are considering a draft law for assistance dogs that includes homogeneous criteria and that equates, in particular, their access in public spaces. "The draft national law on animal protection that will be the combination of projects," defended García Torres, who insists on the need to move towards zero abandonment and zero sacrifice.

 

Dogs now considered PPP

Right now, the breeds considered potentially dangerous in Law 50/99 are:

- Pit Bull Terrier

- Staffordshire Bull Terrier

- American Staffodshire Terrier

- Rottweiler

- Argentine Dogo

- Fila Brasileiro

- Tosa Inu

- Akita Inu

Likewise, those that meet all or most of these characteristics are considered hazards:

- Strong musculature, powerful appearance, robust, athletic configuration, agility, vigor and endurance.

- Outstanding character and great value.

- Short hair.

- Thoracic circumference between 60 and 80 centimeters, height at the withers between 50 and 70 centimeters and weight greater than 20 kg.

- Head voluminous, cuboid, robust, with a broad and large skull and muscular and bulging cheeks.

- Strong and large jaws, robust, wide and deep mouth.

- Wide neck, short and muscled.

- Solid, broad, large, deep chest, arched ribs and short, muscular loin.

- Parallel, straight and robust forelimbs and very muscular hindlimbs, with relatively long legs at a moderate angle.