Spain will ban surgical interventions for aesthetics to domestic animals

• After being approved in the Council of Ministers this Friday, Spain will adhere to a European animal protection agreement.
• This text prohibits surgical interventions aimed at modifying the appearance of animals, such as cutting off ears and tails.
• It also limits the use of pets in advertising and shows and regulates the obligations of individuals and administrations.
• Animal associations have applauded the news.

The Council of Ministers has authorized this Friday the signing of the European Convention on the protection of companion animals of the Council of Europe, which proposes to limit the use of these in advertising and shows and prohibits surgical operations without curative purposes.

In accordance with the terms of the Convention, surgical interventions aimed at modifying the appearance of animals or achieving other non-curative objectives are prohibited. Likewise, every person who has an animal is responsible for its health and welfare, so it stipulates that the breeding, custody and trade of animals must be carried out by people with the appropriate knowledge. In addition, the use of pets in advertising and shows is limited so that their health and well-being are not endangered.

An agreement between 18 countries

This Convention is the legal framework for the 48 member countries of the Council of Europe, including the 28 of the European Union, which establishes the basic principles to ensure the protection of companion animals and the obligations, both of administrations and individuals.

Likewise, it is established that measures must be taken to manage stray animals, and that the development of information and education campaigns must be encouraged.

After this authorization from the Government, the Convention will be sent to the Cortes Generales.Once the last phase of its processing is passed, Spain will be the 18th Member State of the European Union adhered to said Convention.

This accession provides a basic legislative framework on the protection of companion animals that will promote the development and coordination of actions in this area.

A request that comes from far back

Before the announcement of the Council of Ministers, the National Association for the Defense of Animals (ANDA) has celebrated the decision that demanded “for more than ten years” and that represents the creation of a common legislative framework for all of Spain.

In his opinion, Spain’s accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals, made in Strasbourg in 1987, will help a “more coherent and systematized interpretation of animal protection”

In addition, it stresses that this accession establishes general lines applicable throughout the Spanish territory and involves “directly” the Kingdom of Spain, and its central governments, in compliance with a basic regulation that guarantees adequate levels of welfare for animals.

The aforementioned agreement recognizes the “special” relationship of companion animals with man and highlights their contribution to the quality of life and its consequent value to society.

In particular, remember that for example, it will try to dissuade from giving pets to children under 16 years of age without the express consent of their parents or as a prize or bonuses; the rearing of unplanned companion animals and the serious risk to the health and welfare of wild animals acquired or introduced as pets.

Finally, ANDA says in a statement that it hopes that the final processing of this agreement will be “as agile as possible”, so that it can be approved before the end of the legislature.

Source: www.20minutos.es