In the context of a society increasingly respectful of the welfare and safety of our two-legged and four-legged friends, the new animal welfare law comes into force on September 29, 2023.
This legislation not only promotes the care and protection of animal rights, but also makes it mandatory to take out liability insurance for them.
In this article we will explore in detail the impact of this new law, what obligations it introduces and why liability coverage is essential for animal protection.
What does the new Animal Welfare Law entail?
In order for you to identify which regulation we are talking about specifically, it is Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the protection of the rights and welfare of animals. As we said, it comes into force on September 29, 2023, although it is still pending regulatory development.
It is important to note that this protection law applies not only to companion animals and pets such as dogs and cats, but also to other animals such as cows, pigs, horses or poultry.
What does this law include?
- Prohibition of culling. The slaughter of animals as a method of population control or as a preventive measure is prohibited. Slaughter is only allowed in exceptional cases, such as when the animal suffers from an incurable disease or when it represents a danger to public health.
- Prohibition of abandonment. Abandonment is also prohibited. The person responsible for the animal must ensure its welfare and may not abandon it at any time.
- Mandatory registration. Owners and keepers of animals must duly include them in an official registry. This guarantees the identification and tracking of the animals, and is essential to prevent abandonment and mistreatment.
- Obligation of identification. All domestic animals must be identified by microchip or any other means that allows their individual identification.
- Obligation of care. The persons responsible for the animal must guarantee its physical and psychological well-being, providing it with adequate food, veterinary attention, appropriate housing and necessary care.
- Prohibition of animal abuse. Any type of physical or psychological mistreatment of animals is prohibited.
- Penalties. Penalties are established for those who violate the law, ranging from fines to the removal of the animal.
Regarding insurance, the new regulation has also introduced an important novelty. Until now, dogs were only required to have civil liability insurance if they were Potentially Dangerous Dogs (PPP).
However, with the entry into force of this law, ALL dogs must now have a civil liability insurance to protect and respond to possible damages to third parties caused by the animal. This means that the more than 9 million dogs in our country must have this insurance.
The 3 key benefits of Dog Insurance
The inclusion of this legal obligation in the law is not in vain. Dog insurance is essential for many reasons, among them:
- Financial protection: Dog insurance covers legal expenses and compensation in case your dog causes damage to third parties. This includes injuries to people, property damage or incidents with other pets. By having this coverage, you protect yourself financially from unexpected situations.
- Welfare of your pet: In addition to protecting third parties, some dog insurance policies also offer medical coverage for your faithful companion. This ensures that your dog receives the necessary medical attention in case of illness or accident.
- Legal compliance: By having liability insurance for your dog, you will be complying with the law and avoid possible penalties and fines for not complying with this regulation.
How to Obtain Dog Insurance Coverage
Until now, many people had certain coverage for their pets through their home insurance. In the past, taking out a private and family liability policy used to cover possible damages caused by our dogs to others, at least in the case of non-dangerous dogs.
Now, after the introduction of this new law, we have to see what the insurance companies are saying about this coverage required by regulation. Each insurance company is reacting differently to the law, so the first advice we can give you is to contact your insurer or brokerage, and ask what your situation is.
These are the three options you may encounter:
- That your home insurance does allow you to include a clause in which you can specify the name, chip number and other details of your animal, thus certifying that it is covered.
- That your policy also gives you coverage, but does not, however, allow you to include a clause specifying which dog is covered by the policy.
- That your homeowner’s insurance refuses to provide liability coverage for your dog, and forces you to take out specific dog insurance.
Options 1 and 2 could offer you coverage at no additional cost to you. This is, without a doubt, the most ideal situation you could find yourself in.
Not all is said and done with the Animal Welfare Law
All this is a provisional situation.The Law is pending to be developed by a Regulation, which has yet to be drafted. This regulation will specify many more details about the type of insurance to be contracted: minimum insured sums, specific coverages required, etc.
What we can tell you today is that, whatever insurance you take out, it should have sufficient liability capital, as well as legal defense in case of an incident.
And by “sufficient capital” we mean that, if your dog damages a person or, let’s say, causes an accident, you should have a sufficient sum insured to cover the economic damages that you would have to assume. Our advice is to take out a capital sum, of course, in excess of 300,000 euros.
Can we help you choose your dog insurance?
We hope that all these tips and comments have helped you to have a better understanding of the animal welfare law.
If you want us to help you with your specific case when looking for insurance for dogs and pets, you can count on our assistance at no cost. Tell us your situation and, from PIB Group Iberia, we will advise you, looking for your insurance at the best price.
