Lend your voice
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) has opened a public consultation on a new Royal Decree that could have serious consequences for hunting dogs and animal rescues. The draft is very loosely defined and could end up classing hunting dogs as livestock, and pulling non-profit sanctuaries and rescues under farm style regulations. Both would be a massive step backwards for animal welfare.
This is an early consultation stage, which means voices now can actually influence what gets written into the law. You do not need to be a Spanish citizen to take part. Anyone can submit a comment.
You can either use this link which has a template you can personalise (super easy):
It is in Spanish but we translated it for you (see below) so you can be clear what needs updating with your details and also what you are putting your name to.
Or you can email your own words directly to:
Please include some basic details of who you are in your email so that your voice is counted.
Deadline is 11 February 2026. We don’t have long!
It only takes a few minutes, but the more international voices they hear, the harder this is to ignore. If you care about the hunting dogs and sanctuaries, please consider lending your voice!
Translated template:
, [FULL NAME], holder of ID number [ID/PASSPORT NUMBER], acting in my own name and right, write to this Ministry in relation to the preliminary public consultation on the draft Royal Decree concerning traditional zoological centres, to express my concern about its scope and potential consequences.
In relation to the preliminary consultation on the Royal Decree establishing basic rules on animal health, and the authorisation and registration of traditional zoological centres, I wish to express my full support for the submissions made by Fundación AnimaNaturalis Internacional (CIF G67350462), highlighting the following points:
1. On the lack of precision in the concept of “traditional zoological centres”
I consider that the proposed definition, based primarily on the exclusion of other regulatory categories, creates legal uncertainty and allows for overly broad interpretations. This could affect animals and establishments that should not fall under livestock health regulations.
It is essential that the future Royal Decree establishes positive, clear and restrictive criteria to define its scope of application.
2. Explicit exclusion of hunting dogs and other non-productive dogs
I expressly request that the Royal Decree clearly and unequivocally excludes:
• Hunting dogs
• Dogs used for recreational, sporting or traditional activities
• All dogs kept outside an animal production context
Basis: Hunting dogs are NOT production animals. They do not form part of livestock holdings, are not intended for food production, and do not generate products for the food chain. Therefore, they should not be regulated under livestock health rules, but under the framework for the protection of companion animals.
Including them in this Royal Decree would represent an unacceptable step backwards in animal protection.
3. Exclusion or specific regime for sanctuaries and rescue centres
Non-profit sanctuaries and rescue centres fulfil an important social and animal welfare function. They have no commercial or productive purpose and do not operate under a model of exploitation.
I request that these spaces are expressly excluded from the scope of the Royal Decree, or alternatively that a specific regime is established for them which is adapted to their nature and purpose, in coordination with animal protection legislation.
4. Conclusion
The concept of “traditional zoological centres” must not become a residual category that absorbs heterogeneous realities without justification. It is essential to:
• Explicitly exclude hunting dogs and other dogs used for non-productive purposes
• Recognise that they are NOT production animals
• Ensure that sanctuaries and rescue centres are not inappropriately affected
• Establish clear and restrictive criteria for application
For all these reasons, I REQUEST that these observations are taken into account in the drafting of the future Royal Decree.
{YOUR LOCATION}, 5 February 2026
Signed: [FULL NAME]