Spain’s proposed animal rights-bill will ban the sale of pets in shops,convert zoos into wildlife recovery centres, and give prison sentences toanimal abusers.

The draft law, which still faces a public hearing and a parliamentary vote,will also prohibit the keeping of wild animals in circuses and the killing ofpets in any setting other than euthanasia by a veterinarian.

Ione Belarra, Social Rights Minister, said Spain is beginning to end theimpunity of animal abusers in the country.

“This animal rights-bill, the first of our democracy, makes us a bettercountry. Because the value of a society is also measure by how it cares forits animals.”

The bill proposes that zoos will no longer be able to buy or breed non-nativespecies and once their existing exotic animals die, they will be replaced withnative animals, unless it has a captive-breeding agreement in place.

Shops will be unable to sell or display pets, with animals only for salethrough registered breeders, and any pet owners whose animal requirestreatment for abuse would face 18 months prison time, and 24 months if itdies.

The bill does not cover the traditional Spanish spectacle of bullfighting.

Tagged: Animals rights, Spain

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