Calling all pet owners across the Costa Blanca and the wider Valencian Community. Big changes are coming for dogs and cats across Europe as the EU introduces new Pet Laws.
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have approved the first EU law dedicated entirely to the welfare of dogs and cats. It sets out clear rules on how pets should be bred, sold and adopted across the Union, while also cracking down on illegal animal trading, both within the EU and from outside its borders.
Pet Law: Shared rules
Until now, each country has followed its own rulebook, allowing irresponsible breeders and illegal traders to slip through the cracks. The new legislation creates a single framework for all Member States, making it harder for poor practices to hide behind borders.
Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, called the agreement a turning point. For the first time, enforceable standards will govern how dogs and cats are kept and traded. European citizens, he said, want better protection for their pets and tougher action against illegal breeding, which often ties to organised crime.
Microchips become compulsory
One of the key measures requires mandatory identification. All dogs must have a microchip so authorities can trace them throughout their lives. The chip is safe, painless and quick to implant, and it carries a unique code linking the animal to its registered owner.
This simple step alone should significantly reduce illegal sales and abandonment.
Clear limits on breeding
The law also introduces minimum standards for responsible breeding, which have varied widely until now.
Breeding between close relatives, such as parents and offspring or siblings, will be banned except in rare, well-justified cases involving local breeds. Animals with serious malformations or extreme physical features that compromise their quality of life will also be excluded from breeding programmes.
New rules also limit how often females can breed. Continuous breeding cycles will no longer be allowed, and animals that have undergone too many caesarean sections cannot be used for breeding.
Tighter controls on sales
Breeders, pet shops and online sellers will face stricter obligations. Every dog must be identified and registered before being sold or given away, and its origin must be fully traceable. Online sales, long a grey area, are now fully included.
Staff in breeding centres, shops and shelters will also need proper training. Each establishment must have at least one qualified person who has completed authority-approved training.
New Pet Laws: Daily care
The rules extend beyond breeding and sales to everyday life for dogs.
Minimum standards will govern housing, exercise and socialisation. Dogs must have regular access to outdoor spaces and start walking from a young age. Long-term confinement that harms physical or mental health is explicitly forbidden.
Cosmetic procedures, such as ear cropping or tail docking, will be banned unless a genuine veterinary reason exists. Dogs bred for extreme looks or mutilated will not be allowed to take part in shows or competitions, removing incentives for purely aesthetic breeding.
Pet owners will also have responsibilities. After a transition period, anyone keeping dogs must demonstrate basic knowledge of their animals’ needs, behaviour and care, enough to ensure dogs are treated as living beings, not accessories.
What this means for Spain
For Spain, and particularly pet-heavy regions like the Costa Blanca, this legislation brings welcome clarity. The goal is simple: healthier animals, fewer illegal sales, and higher standards across the board.
For the first time, the EU places dogs and cats under a single legal framework. Pet owners can feel reassured. Irresponsible breeders receive a clear warning. And, in some cases, dogs and cats themselves may enjoy a better life.
