Spain’s Council of Ministers has agreed to sign the European Convention for the protection of household pets, which proposes limiting involving this type of animal for publicity campaigns, exhibitions and shows, and which also prohibits owners from taking their pet to be operated on for any measures apart from those required for curative purposes.
In other words, any surgical intervention carried out to change the appearance of the animal or for any other reason than to remedy an illness or health problem will not be allowed. This would include things such as tail docking, ear cropping, declawing and defanging.
The agreement states that anyone who owns an animal as a pet is responsible for its health and well-being, and therefore these people should have the necessary knowledge required to be able to bring up and look after it according to its breed and species. This translates to giving it the correct type of food and amount of exercise.
The use of pets in publicity campaigns and shows will also be restricted, especially if their health or well-being is at risk.
This is an agreement that has been developed for all European countries to sign and establishes the basic principles involved for the protection of pets and the obligations that pet owners and town councils should adhere to.
There are also measures that town halls and local governments must follow when it comes to stray animals. It has been advised that our town halls should make an effort to educate people on how to treat stray cats and dogs.
At the present moment, Spain has only agreed to sign the treaty. The next step is for it to be sent to the General Courts. Once the whole administration procedure has finished, Spain will be the 18th country to sign the agreement.
This is something that many people, especially animal organizations and charities, have been demanding for over a decade, and means that there will be a stricter and clearer framework of the regulations on how to treat pets and animals.
For further information on the articles contained within the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, please visit: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/Treaties/Html/125.htm
Source: www.20minutos.es
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