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What the law says
At PAWS-PATAS, we care deeply about every animal in need—whether it’s a lost dog, an abandoned cat, or a feral colony struggling to survive. But as a registered charity with limited resources, we are simply not in a position to respond to all cases directly.
Legal responsibility under Spanish Law 7/2023
As of 2023, Spanish Law 7/2023 on the Protection of Animal Rights and Welfare clearly defines who is responsible for animal welfare at the municipal level. According to this law:
- The Ayuntamiento (local town council) is legally responsible for the collection, care, and shelter of stray and abandoned animals in its municipality. This includes both dogs and cats.
- Each Ayuntamiento must provide a 24-hour emergency response service to handle injured, sick, or lost animals. This service must also ensure access to veterinary treatment when necessary.
- These legal responsibilities apply to all municipalities, regardless of their population size. Where smaller municipalities lack the resources to provide this service directly, they are required to seek support from their provincial authority (Diputación).
In short, it is not the role of charities like PAWS-PATAS to act as animal control, nor is it lawful for public authorities to delegate these responsibilities to individuals. Our role is to complement—not replace—the public sector’s duty of care.
If you’d like to read the full law, you can find it here (in Spanish):
📄 Ley 7/2023, de 28 de marzo, de protección de los derechos y el bienestar de los animales
(English translations are not currently available, but we are happy to provide informal summaries of relevant sections on request.)
What this means in practice
If you come across a stray or injured animal, the first step should always be to contact the local Ayuntamiento. They are obliged by law to respond and to provide appropriate care. If they are unresponsive or unsure of the procedure, we encourage you to document your request and, if necessary, escalate it to the provincial Diputación, which oversees smaller municipalities.
Why we don’t collect stray or feral cats
Under articles 38/39 of the New Animal Welfare Law 2023, it is very clear that feral and street cats, which are called Community Cats, are the responsibility of the local Ayuntamientos, who may choose to collaborate with a registered Association for the implementation and development of a Feline Colony Management Programme. This means that the removal of a community cat/kittens can only be authorised by the Ayuntamiento or the Association and can only take place if there is a welfare or protection concern, such as new-born kittens or a situation where their survival is at risk.
The law does not allow for the indiscriminate removal of healthy adult community cats simply because they are considered a nuisance or in order to empty colonies
Relocating or removing community cats or kittens without authorisation may constitute a breach of the Animal Welfare Law 2023.
We understand how upsetting it can be to see an animal in distress, and how frustrating it is when the system doesn’t respond quickly. But our long-term goal is to help build a better, more accountable network for animal welfare across the region—and that means ensuring every authority fulfils its legal duty.