ILL-TREATMENT OF AN ANIMAL IN ANDALUCIA IS NOW AN OFFENCE

We have been waiting many years for this - now it is the duty of the public to ensure compliance. This is where the problems begin.

Often through ignorance, sometimes through fear or lack of interest, both the general public and those dealing directly with the animal world do not get sufficiently involved when they witness or know of some ill-treatment.  With this article we want to make people become aware or at least guide them on the steps they must take in the event that someone whose conscience is stronger than their cowardice, wishes to get involved.

FINES OF UP TO 30.000,00 EUROS

In the first place we need to know when we can act and when not.  Before getting in touch with the relevant organisation we must recognise that the law considers the following as serious offences:

a)      Ill-treatment of animals that results in invalidity or death.

b)      Abandoning animals.

c)      Aesthetic mutilations (cutting of ears, docking the tail of horses etc)

d)      Providing poisonous food.

e)      Use of animals in fairs in a way that could cause them suffering or injury.

These are only some of the examples under Article 38 of this extensive law which recognises extremely serious offences with their corresponding penalties and fines which vary from a prohibition on the ownership of animals, closure of riding centres or other related animal establishments and fines from a minimum of 2.001 euros up to 30.000 euros.

It also recognises serious offences which unfortunately are happening around all the time as a matter of course, such as:

a)      Ill-treatment which causes pain or suffering without actually causing invalidity.

b)      Failing to maintain animals in clean hygienic conditions.

c)      Forcing an animal to work beyond its capacity & working ill or tired animals (activities very common in so called equestrian centres).

Suffice it to say that at present for this type of offence the law will apply fines of up to 2.000 euros for each crime, remove the animal & suspend permits etc.

WHAT TO DO WHEN FACED WITH ILL-TREATMENT:

Above all do not keep quiet.  For people with a good heart looking the other way is not enough.  In these days when there is so much talk about a better future it is time that our children saw us doing something.  The phrase “preach by example”, springs to mind.  Unfortunately this new law is as new for us as for the public bodies responsible for enforcing it but if we all work with goodwill we believe that the slogan of our Association will become a reality:

“SO THAT ONE DAY NOT REPORTING AN OFFENCE WILL BE UNUSUAL”.

If we want to act we must be very sure that the crime or offence is real and not simply someone whose actions do not conform to our tastes and mentality.  In this way we will trouble the Police as little as possible and when we really need them they will fully support us.

Our Association is available to any member of the public should they have any doubts about ill-treatment.

The first formal step is to contact the Guardia Civil, Service for the Protection of Nature, Local or National Police, any one of these bodies will attend to our report but we must provide as much information as possible such as the exact address, what has happened and if possible names and surnames of the offender (documentation of the offence, ideally photographs and/or veterinary inspection is also very helpful).  The law states it is obligatory that:

THE VETERINARY PROFESSION whether working for themselves or as an employee MUST INFORM THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY of any incidents that may constitute as “AN OFFENCE UNDER THIS PRESENT LAW” and that they themselves may be subject to fines if they fail to comply.

If we prefer we may inform the authorities that, because we are afraid or for personal reasons, we do not wish to become involved and consequently they will act on our behalf.  The Police will then study the matter and if they have sufficient proof they will take the necessary measures.

If we wish to make a full report and we are prepared to face the consequences because our integrity demands it, we must attend a magistrates court and carry out a private action (if we are involved) or a popular one (if we are not) but note that the witnesses of the incident must not refuse to be legally summoned.  Therefore we should not be afraid to demand the help of other people who have also witnessed the incident.

In this second way we are much more certain that the appropriate measures will be taken, but for this we must become involved and be the pioneers of this future in which not making a report against the ill-treatment of Animals will be regarded as something quite impossible and precisely for this reason the number of cases in Spain will be reduced to nothing.  God willing.

We are also looking serious people to foster recuperating horses.