Spain's Animal Welfare Act - March 2023
Mandatory Dog Insurance. POSTPONED. The new law requires all dog owners to secure public liability insurance for each pet. This obligation was expected to come into effect on September 29th, 2023, but has now been POSTPONED.
Article 30 of the legislation explicitly states that individuals who own dogs must engage and sustain civil liability insurance coverage for potential third-party damages throughout the animal’s lifespan.
Individuals with existing home contents insurance policies may already have some degree of coverage for their pets. However, come September, another requirement will be necessary – dogs included in an insurance policy must have a microchip, which is also law.
You will find that each town hall and autonomous region has it’s own regulations on dog ownership.
Dog ownership courses in Spain -POSTPONED.
The new law adds a point that has caused much controversy: all people who own or want to own a dog must take a free course, regardless of their breed or physical characteristics, in advance or, if already owned, within a maximum period of two years from the entry into force of the new regulation.
According to the BOE, the course in question must be carried out by all those people who "choose to be owners of dogs" and by those who are already owners, who will have a period of two years from September 29th, 2023 to complete it. The training course will have an "indefinite validity" and its accreditation must be accompanied by civil liability insurance for damages to third parties "that includes in its coverage the persons responsible for the animal, for an amount of sufficient amount to cover the possible derived expenses, which will be established by regulation."
The course will consist of three parts: one of care and veterinary, another of animal welfare and another of legislation, more information will follow shortly.
Dangerous dogs in Spain with the Animal Welfare Law 2023
Until now, the dogs considered as potentially dangerous in Spain, based on their behaviour and physical characteristics, were as follows:
Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffodshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu, Doberman, Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Neapolitan Mastiff, Boxer, Dogo Canario (Presa Canario), Bull Terrier, Tibetan Mastiff.
However, when the Animal Welfare Act 2023 comes into force, the term "potentially dangerous dog" will be changed to "special handling dog". and their classification will be determined through a sociability assessment according to their behaviour.
If, after testing, the dog is classified as a "special handling dog", owners must follow certain security measures to prevent assaults or escapes.
These are the infractions and sanctions provided for in the new regulations, with up to 18 months in prison.
Fines will range from 500 to 10,000€ for minor infractions and 10,001 to 50,000€ for serious and from 50,001 to 200,000€ for very serious ones.
Actions involving an injury or death of an animal may be punished with prison sentences, ranging from 3 to 12 months if the animal does not die and from 6 to 18 months if it does. Actions involving an injury or death of an animal may be punished with prison sentences, ranging from 3 to 12 months if the animal does not die, and from 6 to 18 months if it dies.
Minor and serious infringements
Here is a list of the infractions provided for in the new law.
They will be minor infractions (from 500 to 10,000 euros fine):
The law considers a minor infraction "any conduct that, by action or omission and without causing physical damage or alterations of its behaviour to the animal, entails the non-observance of prohibitions, care or obligations established by law or those derived from the breach of administrative responsibilities by the owners or responsible for the animal." This includes:
- Lack of communication in the loss or removal of an animal.
- Allow animals to circulate in public spaces without supervision, as well as leave them on a leash.
- No sterilization of animals with uncontrolled access to other animals.
- Leaving animals unsupervised in conditions that may be harmful to their health, such as inside a closed vehicle; or at home for more than 24 hours, in the case of a dog, and 72 hours in the case of cats.
Serious infractions, fines between €10,001 and €50,000 even if they do not involve physical harm to the animal:
Serious infractions will be considered all those that involve damage or suffering to the animal, that do not cause death or serious sequelae, and the violation of all the obligations and prohibitions required by the new legislation:
- Not correctly identifying the animal.
- The misuse of aggressive or violent methods in animal education.
- The administration of substances that harm animals or alter their behaviour that are not prescribed by a veterinarian and have a therapeutic purpose.
- Modifying or mutilating the body of an animal without authorization.
- Use animals as an object of reward, prize, raffle, promotion or advertising claim that has not been authorized.
- Breed and/or trade with non-native wild animals.
- The shipment, not provided for by law, of live animals.
- The removal, relocation or displacement of community cats in situations other than those allowed in this law.
- The abandonment of one or more animals: includes not picking up the animal from residences, veterinarians or other similar establishments in which they had previously deposited them, despite not entailing risk to the animal.
- The theft, theft or misappropriation of an animal.
- Feed with offal from other animals that have not passed the appropriate health controls.
- Permanently keep dogs or cats on terraces, balconies, rooftops, storage rooms, basements, patios and similar or vehicles.
- Committing more than one minor infraction within 3 years.
Very serious infringements (50,001 to 200,000 euros)
All the infractions considered very serious included in the law are:
- Breach of obligations and prohibitions required by law when the death of the animal occurs, provided that it does not constitute a crime, as well as the unauthorized slaughter of animals.
- The assisted death of animals with inadequate means or by an unqualified person.
- The training and use of animals to fight and quarrel with other animals or people.
- The use of pets for human consumption.
- Kill community cats outside the cases authorized in this law.
- The breeding, trade or exhibition of animals for commercial purposes by unauthorized persons or the sale of dogs, cats and ferrets in pet shops.
- The use of animals in prohibited activities, in particular in cultural and festive activities, in mechanical attractions, fairground carousels, as well as the use of wildlife species in circus shows.
- The use of genetic selection of companion animals that entails deterioration for their health.
- The commission of more than one serious infringement within three years, when it has been declared by a final administrative decision.
The fines in question may come from the hand of other 'accessory sanctions' that may involve:
- Intervention of the animal and its transmission to an animal protection centre or to the one determined by the competent authority.
- Withdrawal of weapons and licenses, and confiscation of the means used to perpetuate the infringement.
- Temporary suspension of licenses, authorizations or permits that may be up to six years for very serious repeat infractions and up to two years for serious infractions.
- Temporary closure of premises and establishments that may even be definitive if there are repeat infringements.
- Disqualification for the exercise of activities related to animals, and possession with animals, for a maximum period of five years for serious infractions and five to ten years for very serious
- Withdrawal of subsidies or aid in the field of this law.
- The obligation to carry out re-education or training courses in welfare, animal protection and animal rights and/or work for the benefit of the
Keep in mind that, in addition, actions involving an injury or death of an animal may be punished with prison sentences, ranging from 3 to 12 months if the animal does not die, and from 6 to 18 months if it dies.
Please note the above has been translated from Spanish to English, so some detail may be slightly lost in translation, read the original article here.
The Laws regarding the flying of drones are very strict in Spain. These flying devices, however small they may be, are subject to the regulations of the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and these rules must be followed, unless you want to risk an eye watering fine, Fines for the misuse of drones for recreational purposes can reach 225,000 euros.
Who are the AESA? This is the Spanish Agency for Aviation Safety, they are in charge of everything related to Air Navigation and Transport, as well as Airport Security.
Find out here, what spaces a drone (remotely piloted aircraft) can fly over.
Some rules do not apply if your drone weights less than 250 grams, and does not exceed 20 metres in height, these are regarded as a toy.
*Please note - If your drone weights less than 250 grams but can operate at speeds greater than 90km/h and is equipped with a camera or a microphone, it is NOT classed by the UAS as a toy.*
Do you need a licence to fly a drone in Spain?
For drones from 250 grams, it is mandatory to obtain a certificate that accredits a minimum of knowledge, and that will allow the flight of drones in the different established categories, which may be Level 1 or 2, depending on the risk of the operation, to fly in some specific categories, it is necessary to pass the AESA Level 3 exam.
There is no longer a distinction between professional and recreational flying.
To submit an application, please follow this link*
Remote Pilot Certificate (Non-EU Residents)
If you want to fly your drone in Spain and live in a non-EU country, you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate from an EU country.
You can get the A1/A3 Certificate by registering with the online Remote Pilot School.
Rules that you need to follow, even if your drone is less than 250 grams.
You must respect the rule of not flying within a radius of 8 km from any airport, aerodrome or other controlled air spaces.
You cannot fly in National Parks, wildlife conservation areas, Biosphere Reserves, and other protected natural areas.
If your drone carries a camera, you must be careful not to violate the Data Protection Act and the Right to Honour and Privacy.
Drones should not be piloted where other low-altitude flights are carried out such as skydiving, ballooning or paragliding.
Drone users must pilot drones in suitable weather conditions, that is, without rain, fog or wind.
Other rules for Drones over 250 grams
Recreational flights: Flight prohibited in urban areas
According to the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), the flight of drones in urban areas or over crowds of people such as parks, public or private gardens, streets, beaches, concerts or demonstrations is prohibited.
Suitable area: The flight area must meet certain conditions
The regulation approved on December 15th, 2017 establishes that drones can only be used in areas suitable for it, which are generally unpopulated areas or model aircraft flight zones.
Day time flights
The device must always fly during the day, less than 120 meters high and with the drone in view of the controller at all times.
Night flights
According to the State Aviation Safety Agency, there is the possibility of carrying out night flights, as long as the drone weighs less than two kilos and does not exceed fifty meters in height.
Liability insurance is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended to have one, as the pilot is responsible for any damage caused by the aircraft.
Drone Identification
The drone must have a fireproof identification plate fixed on the structure that will contain data such as the manufacturer’s name, model, serial number (if applicable) and the pilot’s contact details.
*Disclaimer - The information provided above is based on current AESA rules, and are a guide as these can be change at any time.*
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Benidorm Seriously Apps - We have been asked in the past if we offer any Benidorm Seriously apps. The short answer to this question is, YES, we do.
To help those who use small screen devices to access the website, I need to point out that there are over 700 pages of information on the site, not including the Business Directory, the Online Shop and the New social feed called BeeSer. This means a native app would take up a lot of space on your device to store the data. We have therefore opted for alternative options.
Around 90% of the website is fully mobile responsive, however, from time to time, you may find a better experience by turning your phone sideways. The What's on Guide is a perfect example of this. Also, on most browsers there is an option to "save to home screen" usually located under options in the top right-hand corner. This can be different on different devices but will place a shortcut to your favourite pages on the website.
Progressive Web App
For those who still prefer the app experience, the entire website is available as a Progressive Web App. PWAs use a lot less space on your device and can cache data that serve users with images, texts, and other content before the whole app loads completely. It cuts down the waiting time for users, so they offer a faster user experience than native apps.
To install the PWA go to any page of the website using an android device and provided you are using Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge, you should see an option on your screen to install the app. Thats it, one click and it is installed.
For Apple users there is a little extra work needed. To see the installation option, you need to be using Safari as your browser. Open (or install) Safari and navigate to the website. You should now be able to see the option to install the app.
The Social Feed (Q & A)
As the number of members using our own social feed Q & A increases as a faster alternative to the Facebook Group, there is a native app available for this should you prefer it to the PWA.
To make use of this you will need to have an active registration on the website. Register today.
Then visit AppleStore or Googleplay and download the app entitled EasySocial. Once installed you will be asked for the website address, your username and your password. This information can be saved to avoid needing to do this every time. (Note use the address benidormseriously.com there is no need to add http or www).
And thats it!! You will now have access to the social feed without the restrictions of Facebook
Benidorm is a seaside town located in the eastern part of Spain. It is popular for its beautiful and family-friendly attractions. If your idea of a perfect holiday is plenty of beach time, first-class attractions, fantastic weather, and wild nightlife, then Benidorm is a place you have to visit.
Located in Costa Blanca in the Valencia region, the seaside town is one place that guarantees maximum fun and satisfaction for every tourist.
Whether you love to shop until you drop, or wish to taste the local cuisine, you have everything in abundance in Benidorm. However, while this town boasts several exciting attractions, some are more fun-inducing and thrilling than others.
Thus, we have decided to highlight the 6 attractions considered the best in Benidorm.
For people who want the ideal family getaway, Mundomar is the place to be. This park offers a perfect family adventure, with its broad collection of animal shows and exhibits. Mundomar is one of the best water parks in Benidorm and focuses on sea life creatures.
You have the opportunity to connect with aquatic creatures such as sea lions and dolphins. You can even swim with some of them and learn about reptiles, mammals, and birds.
If you enjoy the thrilling environment of casino games, you can try out the Casino Mediterraneo Benidorm. The casino offers a large gaming floor with a good mix of card and table games like roulette and blackjack. Moreover, you are also able to watch live entertainment such as singers and dancers.
However, if you fancy playing casino games, you’re able to play on the go from anywhere with an internet connection. Online, you will find comparison sites that offer free spins bonuses and more! Some of these slots are able to play for free and resemble Spain such as Spanish Passion. In addition, you can read in depth reviews to give you a better overview.
One of the best tourist attractions in Benidorm is Levante Beach. In fact, it's one of the most iconic places associated with the town. It is an arc of golden sand bounded by a broad line of beautiful blue waters and attracts thousands of people every year.
Although the beach is packed in the summer, it’s never short of a place for you to visit. Even on the busiest of all days, there will always be a quiet place to relax and sunbathe. You are able to have a snooze, or go for a picnic with your family and friends.
A big hotel, zoo, and water complex in Benidorm that is a major attraction for tourists. It comes with pools, slides as well as animal enclosures. The hotel is divided into several parts that include Terra Natura, Aqua Natura as well as Theme lodges.
There is a guided tour of the complex which will give you a real insight into different animals. Moreover, you’re also able to learn about the animals’ welfare and the daily training methods.
A restaurant located in Benidorm and it is known as one of the best in Costa Blanca. It offers a comprehensive range of authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is basque-inspired and it uses the healthiest and the highest quality ingredients for all dishes.
Restaurante Aitona also prides itself in excellent customer service which further makes it highly inviting to tourists from all walks of life.
The restaurant’s specialization is paella and is located in Old Town, around 50 meters north of Balcó del Mediterrani and Mirador del Castell, 2 more famous eateries.
This is a little inland from the beachside skyscrapers but it is still one of the top 10 highlights in Benidorm. The complex boasts of a large aquatic haven for the entire family.
Aqualdia has fun slides that enter the pools from a broad range of angles. The complex also gives you an open view of Benidorm’s red mountains and thick vegetation.
So there you have, our experts have put together a list of the 6 best attractions in Benidorm. If you are planning a trip to the Spanish town, remember to brush up on the language and bring some sun cream!