Madrid considers reprieve for death row pets

MANDATORY euthanasia for abandoned pets that end up in pounds and shelters across Madrid may soon end now that regional lawmakers have decided to look at changing the local animal protection law.

After a campaign by animal protection society El Refugio, Madrid’s regional parliament last week unanimously voted to back a proposal presented by the United Left (IU) group calling for, among other things, an end to the sacrificing of abandoned animals.

Catalonia is currently the only Spanish region to prohibit the euthanasia of abandoned animals. There is no national legislation regarding this issue.

The draft bill in Madrid also calls for mandatory sterilisation of all pets whose owners do not plan on breeding them and fines of up to €3,000 for people who abandon animals.

Lawmakers will debate the bill during the next parliamentary term, which will begin after May’s regional elections.