From tomorrow, Thursday 29th September, pet owners in the Canary Islands must exercise extra caution when leaving their furry friends alone, as the country's new animal welfare law comes into effect. Under the new legislation, all pets can only be left alone for a maximum of three days without human supervision, and just 24 hours for dogs.
Beyond this timeframe, it will be considered an act of 'abandonment' by the owner if it can be proven that their pet has been deprived of any form of care or oversight for 72 hours, or 24 hours in the case of dogs, and they will be fined and possibly have their pet taken off them.
This regulation extends to any animals that are required to live "permanently in cages, aquariums, terrariums, and similar enclosures." Additionally, it is mandated that social animals, which live in groups, "must be provided with the companionship they require."
Furthermore, the new law strictly prohibits domestic dogs and cats from residing on terraces, balconies, rooftops, storage rooms, cellars, basements, or courtyards.
Exceptions to these rules are only permitted for pets that, due to various reasons, must be housed in open spaces. In such cases, owners are obligated to provide shelters that shield the animals from adverse weather conditions and prevent prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, rain, or extreme cold. Moreover, these open spaces must be designed according to the dimensions and physiological needs of the animal, and owners must guarantee access to food and water for their pets.
