Last Updated on August 7, 2023 by Pets Feed
The law which recognizes domestic animals as sentient beings also in the Civil Code has been approved in Spain. Henceforth, they will no longer be considered as “objects”.
Pets, finally, will no longer be considered “objects”. Spain finally approved the law which recognizes domestic animals as sentient beings also in the Civil Code.
Indeed, a new article will be introduced in the text which establishes that “animals are living beings endowed with sensitivity” and that the people who take care of them must be able to guarantee “their well-being according to the characteristics of each species”.
From now on, animals will therefore have another legal recognition than an inanimate object: they can no longer be abandoned, mistreated or taken away from one of their reference humans in the event of divorce or separation, regardless of their own good. -to be.
Because the law that recognizes animals as sensitive is important
Animals were already recognized as sentient beings in regional administrative laws as well as in the Spanish Penal Code but not in the Civil Code. The inclusion in the text is however a fundamental step because it will allow to settle all the questions relating to the property, the family and the obligations towards them.
Without this legal reform, indeed, it was virtually impossible for lawyers to address certain issues, such as, for example, what to do with pets in divorce, or when their human companions are in debt or do not pay money. mortgage.
The process of passing the law was long and torturous. It was in 2017 when it was first offered, but in 2019 it stalled due to the election. It was not until April of this year that the initiative reappeared in Congress and this time, however, it was supported by all parties except the right-wing Vox party. In September, the law was approved by Spain’s upper house, the Senate, which introduced some changes. And last Thursday, the final green light was given by Congress.
Spain is therefore taking an important step long awaited by animal protection organizations. That said, however, the hope is that the process is only just beginning, given that there are still many regulatory loopholes that leave different groups of animals outside of legal welfare and protection.
