Spaniards will no longer have to worry about who gets to keep the dog or the cat when a relationship is over. A new law states that animals are no longer considered “things or goods” but sensible beings and as so, they have to spend equal time with both parties, if no arrangement is reached, then a judge will rule out.
This new regulation was approved by the Spanish Congress of Deputies and states that animals will no longer be considered “real estate or things”, to recognize their nature as “sentient beings” or living beings endowed with sensitivity.
The main goal is to modify the Civil Code, the Mortgage Law, and the Civil Procedure Law on the legal regime of animals so that they stop being treated as objects, giving prior approval to several of the amendments made by the Senate.
The text includes the distribution of time and the burdens of pets in the event of family ruptures, whether they are marriages or common-law couples, and, if there is no agreement, it establishes that the final decision will be made by a judge.
Deputies who stand in favor of this new regulation spoke about how it might stop violence not only against animals but as well as human beings.
With information from EFE
