Bed & Breakfast in Almeria

Ecologists demand a blanket national law for the protection of animals

FOUR youths were arrested in Almería last week for allegedly torturing and killing livestock stolen from a farm in the Rambla de Belén area of Almería city.

Two 19-year-olds, one 28-year-old, and one minor were arrested after police found a sickening trail of dead animals butchered at an abandoned farmhouse.

The men were arrested following a National Police investigation launched after a farmer reported a burglary and the theft of livestock. He also reported the discovery of injured animals on his property as well as two decapitated chickens.

Police on patrol witnessed four young people on motorcycles coming off the motorway near the Rambla de Belén carrying various packets, who quickly hid in a nearby abandoned farmhouse upon seeing the officers.

A search of the property revealed a bloodstained axe, and in one of the rooms the officers discovered three dead billy goats with severe injuries. One of the suspects was found at the scene and arrested on the spot.

Meanwhile, the other three suspects were stopped by plain-clothed policemen when they attempted to escape from a nearby police roadblock.

In addition to the incriminating evidence seized by police were two large knives.

The youths have been handed over to the authorities for trial on charges of burglary and cruelty to animals.

The law on animal cruelty charges

Animal protection laws in Spain differ from region to region - a situation that is the source of much controversy among animal rights groups.

The dispute was further fanned by a recent decision by Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to backtrack on an election promise to create a national umbrella law ensuring tougher penalties throughout the country for the mistreatment of animals.

The aim of the proposed bill would have been to ‘even out’ the differences between the regions, as fines for mistreatment and abandonment currently vary from 3,000 to 150,000 euros depending on where the aggressor lives.

However, the national Penal Code establishes prison sentences of between three months and one year for severe violence towards animals, causing them death or serious long-lasting injuries, although according to animal rights groups these sentences are rarely carried out due to the difficulty of proving “excessive and intentional force” in an attack.

In Andalucía, the law passed in 2003 establishes three degrees of animal cruelty, ranging from minor to serious and very serious.

Very serious crimes include killing or maiming animals, abandoning pets, setting poisoned traps, organising events such as dog or cockfights, and various other offences punishable with fines of between 2,000 and 30,000 euros.

Serious crimes include mistreatment and causing non-disabling injuries, failing to carry out the required vaccinations and medical treatments, keeping animals in unhygienic and inadequate conditions, forcing animals to work beyond their capabilities or while incapacitated, the public sale of animals outside authorised establishments, and a long list of other crimes penalised with fines of 500 to 2,000 euros.

Minor offences feature failure to maintain the required up-to-date medical history for domestic animals, allowing pets to disturb neighbours, or failing to collect their excrements, with fines of between 75 to 500 euros.