Barriers in policy hampering animal protection.
In the city of Almería, Spain, local authorities and veterinary professionals are voicing concerns about the impact of recent regulations on animal welfare and veterinary care. The current system, which aims to regulate antibiotic use and improve animal welfare, has been criticised for being too rigid, causing delays in treatments, increased operating costs, and making veterinary care less affordable for many families.
The Official College of Veterinarians of Almería has highlighted these challenges, stating that the current system has led some pet owners to skip necessary care or delay urgent interventions. This situation is causing concern among council members, who fear that the rising costs of veterinary services are contributing to higher rates of pet abandonment.
In response to these concerns, the City Council of Almería has called on the Spanish government to amend national legislation (Royal Decree 666/2023) regarding animal healthcare. The aim is to maintain essential services like vaccinations, sterilizations, and surgeries accessible and affordable, supporting animal welfare without overburdening veterinarians or penalizing responsible pet owners.
The proposal, supported by the Partido Popular, Vox, and Podemos-IU-Los Verdes con Almería, requests a reduction in VAT on veterinary services from 21% to 10%, and a super-reduced rate of 4% for veterinary medicines. These financial measures aim to improve affordability for families.
The motion was passed with a majority, although the Socialist Party abstained from the vote. The councillor for Environmental and Energy Sustainability, Antonio Urdiales, expressed his support for the proposal, stating that the current system imposes disproportionate penalties and fosters a climate of uncertainty. He also emphasised that the legislation requiring veterinarians to register every antibiotic acquired and administered for companion animals in the digital platform Presvet is limiting access to essential treatment.
The call for legislative amendment comes as many animals are being left behind due to their owners' inability to afford care. Urdiales stressed that the proposal is not a rejection of oversight, but a call for proportional regulation. He believes that the proposed changes will help ensure that essential services like vaccinations, sterilisation, and surgery remain accessible to pet owners, ultimately improving animal welfare in Almería.
- Recognizing the need for affordable veterinary care, the Official College of Veterinarians of Almería has underscored that the rigidity of the current system has led some pet owners to compromise on necessary health-and-wellness needs for their pets, resorting to skipping care or delaying urgent interventions.
- In an effort to address the concerns surrounding the impact of rising veterinary costs on pet abandonment rates, the Partido Popular, Vox, and Podemos-IU-Los Verdes con Almería have united in a proposal to the Spanish government, requesting a reduction in VAT on veterinary services and a super-reduced rate for veterinary medicines to improve affordability for families, thus supporting science-based health-and-wellness practices for their pets.
