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What it is

Rules for owning potentially dangerous animals

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 17 September 1999. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Government bill on the legal regime for the keeping of potentially dangerous animals.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000184· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law regulates the keeping of potentially dangerous animals: wild animals used as domestic or companion animals, and dogs of a certain breed type with aggressive character, size or powerful jaws that could cause harm.
  2. Keeping these animals requires a license from the town council. You must be an adult, have no convictions for certain crimes, pass a psychological fitness certificate and hold liability insurance.
  3. Buying, selling or transferring these animals requires both parties to have a license, and the animal must be registered in the municipal registry within fifteen days. Dogs must always be identified, with no exceptions.
  4. Training animals to increase their aggression or for fights is banned. In public spaces, potentially dangerous dogs must wear a leash or chain shorter than two meters and an approved muzzle.
  5. Offenses are classified as minor, serious and very serious, with fines from 25,000 to 2,500,000 pesetas. Abandoning the animal or keeping it without a license is very serious; letting it loose or without a muzzle is serious.
  6. The law takes effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

  • Owners, breeders and keepers of these animals: They must get a license, identify and register the animal, and follow safety rules.
  • Anyone buying or selling these animals: They need a license and must record the transfer in the registry.
  • Trainers: They need a competence certificate and must report their clients quarterly.
  • Town councils and Autonomous Communities: They issue licenses, keep the registries and punish violations.

Words worth knowing

Licencia administrativa
Official permit from the town council needed to keep the animal.
Registro municipal
Official town council list where the animals and their owners are recorded.
Responsabilidad civil
Liability to pay for damage the animal causes to people or property.
Potestad sancionadora
The administration's power to impose sanctions or fines.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced17 September 1999Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted21 September 1999The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments27 September 1999Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee20 October 1999A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenaryno dateAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate8 November 1999The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE2 December 1999It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 10 official steps on a timeline
Sept 1999Oct 1999Nov 199911. 17 September 1999: Presentación22. 21 September 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Publicación desde 21/09/1999 hasta 27/09/199933. 21 September 1999: Calificación44. 27 September 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Enmiendas desde 27/09/1999 hasta 20/10/199955. 18 October 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Mesa - Calificación desde 18/10/1999 hasta 20/10/199966. 20 October 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Debate de totalidad desde 20/10/1999 hasta 21/10/199977. 21 October 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Informe desde 21/10/1999 hasta 27/10/199988. 27 October 1999: Comisión de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca Aprobación con competencia legislativa plena desde 27/10/1999 hasta 08/11/199999. 8 November 1999: Senado desde 08/11/1999 hasta 02/12/19991010. 2 December 1999: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 02/12/1999 hasta 11/01/2000

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Act 50/1999, of December 23, on the Legal Regime for the Keeping of Potentially Dangerous Animals.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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