Guide
The laws that affect you and the services available for your pet: insurance, vets, boarding, travel and more. Explained clearly, with the source for everything.
Before they arrive
Adopting, buying, fostering, what it costs and which pet suits you
- Adopting or buying a pet: what the law says and what to askSince 2023, dogs, cats and ferrets cannot be sold in shops. Where to adopt, who to buy from and what papers they must give you.
- How to adopt an animal, step by stepAdopting is not as complicated as it seems, but it has its steps. What they will ask of you, what they will give you and how to prepare so it goes well.
- Fostering: helping without adopting for everIf you cannot adopt but want to help, fostering an animal for a few weeks or months changes its life. How it works and what you need to know.
- What having a pet really costs (and what people forget)Food is only one part. A list of the regular costs, the one-off costs and the unexpected ones, so you can do your sums before, not after.
- Dog, cat, rabbit, bird, fish or reptile: which one suits your life?There is no easy pet, only pets that suit each home better. Honest questions to get it right before you bring anyone home.
- Checklist to get your home ready before it arrivesWhat to have ready on the first day and the household dangers we tend to miss. A list to print out and tick off.
Paperwork and laws
Microchips, the Animal Welfare Act, fines, PPP and inheritance
- The Animal Welfare Act: what you need to know if you live with a petLey 7/2023 (the Animal Welfare Act) changed a lot: how long your dog can be left alone, which collars are banned and where you can buy animals. The essentials, article by article.
- Your pet is no longer a «thing»: what the Civil Code saysSince 2022, animals are sentient beings in the eyes of the law. That changes what happens to them in a divorce, who pays if they bite and what you can claim if someone harms them.
- Microchip and registration: what it is, who fits it and how to change the detailsThe microchip is your pet's ID card, but it only works if the details in the register are up to date. What you need to know and what people forget most.
- Fines under the Animal Welfare Act: how much they are and whyLey 7/2023 (the Animal Welfare Act) has three types of offence, with fines ranging from €500 to €200,000. What counts as minor, serious or very serious.
- What happens to your pet if something happens to you?Nobody wants to think about it, but planning ahead is the best way to look after it. What the Código Civil (Civil Code) says about pets in an inheritance.
- Exotic animals: which ones you can keep and which are bannedSome species that used to be sold in shops cannot be kept today. What the invasive species catalogue says and what the «positive list» is.
- Potentially dangerous dogs: what the law says, plain and simpleWhich breeds are on the list, what paperwork you need and how your dog has to be walked. With the exact article for each point, so you don’t have to rely on what the neighbour says.
Health and the vet
Insurance, vaccines, emergencies, poisons and heat
- Pet insurance: types, what they cover and the small printThird-party liability, vet bills, accidents… There is insurance for everything. Which is compulsory, which is worth having and the five things to check before you sign.
- Mutual schemes, igualas and vet health plans: better than insurance?Many clinics offer a monthly fee that includes vaccinations, check-ups and discounts. How they work and how they differ from insurance.
- The vet: check-ups, vaccinations and what to do in an emergencyFinding a good vet before you need one is one of the best things you can do for your pet. What to ask and when to rush in.
- Neutering: when it is compulsory and what you need to knowFor cats it is compulsory before six months of age. For dogs and other species, you decide with your vet. What to weigh up.
- Vaccinations and parasite treatments: the basics so you don't get lostWhich vaccinations are compulsory depends on where you live. How vaccinations work, internal and external parasites, and how not to forget the dates.
- Foods and household items that are toxic to dogs and catsSome things we eat every day can be very dangerous for them. The list worth sticking on the fridge.
- Heatstroke: how to prevent it and what to do if it happensDogs sweat very little and overheat quickly. The warning signs, first aid and the breeds most at risk.
- Processionary caterpillars and grass seeds: two countryside dangers you need to knowA caterpillar in spring and a dry grass seed in summer can end in an emergency visit. How to recognise them and what to do.
- Your pet is getting older: how to make things easier for itOver the years they move less, see or hear worse and need different care. Small changes at home that give them a better quality of life.
Home and neighbours
Renting, neighbours, local bylaws and street cats
- Renting a flat with a pet: what the landlord can and cannot ask of youFinding a flat with a dog or cat is hard. What the rental law says, what can be agreed and how to win the owner over.
- Your pet and your neighbours: barking, the lift and shared areasProblems with neighbours usually start with noise, smells or the lift. What the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (Condominium Act) says and how to avoid conflict.
- What your council decides: off the lead, parks, poo and moreMany everyday rules are not in national law but in your council's by-law. What they usually cover and how to look them up.
- How long can a dog be left alone? The law and common senseThe law sets a limit of 24 hours, but your dog needs much less time alone to be well. How to organise yourself if you work away from home.
- Street cats and feral cat colonies: how to help without getting it wrongCats that live on the street are protected by law. What a managed colony is, what the council does and how you can lend a hand.
Travel and holidays
Car, Europe, transport, boarding and beaches
- Travelling around Europe with your dog, cat or ferret: passport, microchip and rabiesTo cross borders within the European Union your pet needs three things, and one of them takes time. What the European regulation asks for, so you are not caught out on the last day.
- Your pet in the car: what the rules say and how to travel safelyA loose dog in the car is a danger to everyone and can cost you a fine. What the Reglamento General de Circulación (General Traffic Regulations) says and the safest ways to carry it.
- You are going away and your pet is not: boarding, day care and sittersA dog cannot be left alone for more than 24 hours, and no animal for more than three days. The options for when you go away and how to choose well.
- Travelling with your pet: train, plane, boat and places to stayMore and more places accept animals, but every company has its own rules. What to ask before you book and how to prepare for the trip.
- Beaches, mountains and terraces: where you can go with your dogMore and more places accept dogs, but the rules change from one place to another. How to find out and how to behave so we keep being let in.
Everyday life
Training, puppies, professionals and assistance dogs
- Trainers, dog walkers, groomers and other professionals who can help youSome people make a living out of making life easier for your pet and for you. Who does what and what to look for when choosing.
- Socialising a puppy: the weeks that shape its lifeWhat a puppy experiences in its first months influences what it will be like as an adult. How to introduce it to the world without overwhelming it.
- Assistance dogs: what they are and where they can goThey guide, alert and help people with disabilities or certain illnesses. What the law says and how to behave if you come across one.
If something goes wrong
Lost pets, bites, abuse or saying goodbye
- Cruelty and abandonment: it is a crime, and this is how to report itHarming an animal or abandoning it can lead to prison and a ban on keeping animals. What the Código Penal (Criminal Code) says and who to call if you see something.
- If your pet goes missing: what to do in the first few hoursYou have 48 hours to report it, but it is best to act straight away. A step-by-step plan, and what you can get ready today so it comes home sooner.
- When your pet passes away: euthanasia, saying goodbye and paperworkIt is the moment nobody wants to face. What the law says, the options for saying goodbye and the paperwork you need to do.
- If your dog bites someone: what to do and what your responsibility isIt can happen even with the nicest dog. The steps to take, what the law says and why insurance matters so much.
- If a dog bites you: first stepsWhat to do with the wound, what details to ask for and how to claim for the damage if needed.
- If you find an abandoned or injured animalYou want to help, but do not know where to start. Who to call, how to find out if it has an owner and who pays the vet.
General information reviewed in November 2026 from the BOE (Spain’s official gazette) and EU law. It is not legal advice: your region and your town council may have their own rules.