A reader forwarded this little story from SUR, a newspaper in Southern Spain.

GENERAL NEWS:

Law reiterates and clarifies dangerous dog restrictions
A. Nogues

“The new law also includes a long chapter devoted to the ownership of potentially dangerous dogs. In this section the Junta de Andalucia has included all the breeds listed in the national legislation (Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Argentine Dogo, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu) and has added the Doberman.

“Furthermore the dangerous dog category can also be applied to any dog that has been trained to attack or that has been certified as potentially dangerous by a vet due to its weight, size and aggressive character.

“These animals will have to undergo a training course and must be walked on a lead of no more than one metre and wear a muzzle, says the regulation which also bans this type of dog from areas such as children’s playgrounds. More than one dog of this kind must not be walked by any one person at the same time and documents to prove the animal is correctly registered must be carried at all times.

“Owners of dogs classed as dangerous must obtain a license from their local Town Hall and register their pet on the Andalusian Animal Identification Register (RAIA) through authorized vets. The owner must be over the age of 18 and able-bodied, pass a psychological test, be free of convictions of serious offenses and take out a civil responsibility insurance policy with cover of at least 175,000 euros.” (That equals $266,017 U.S. dollars)

I did a little checking on the Internet and discovered that the dangerous dog regulations in the story above also contain some interesting laws for other types of “dangerous pets” in Southern Spain.

For example:
“Under the new system, large reptiles, poisonous insects and large primates will not be allowed in Andalucian households and people who flout the law could be hit with a fine of 115,000 euros ($174,811 U.S. dollars). People living in the region who already own such pets will be given a six-month period to take the forbidden animal to their local city hall and hand it over … “

Owners of dogs, snakes and other “interesting” pets would probably be wise not to share this little story with their local animal control department, humane society, or SPCA. You might give them some silly ideas. /Gary