Penalty for selling animals online can reach up to 200 thousand euros. The Animal Welfare Act treats such fines as a response to the growing trend of private individuals trading animals on social networks and second-hand marketplaces. This is part of a broader move to curb private breeding and the informal market from expanding unchecked.
The law will only allow registered breeders who operate under formal oversight. Yet some NGOs argue that the wording of the law goes beyond its stated aims. This view is echoed in a joint statement by the Franz Weber Foundation and Intercids. Pet shops will still be permitted to sell certain species, including reptiles, rodents, and birds, under regulated conditions.
Additionally, the regulation intends to prohibit in-store sales of dogs, cats, and ferrets. Advocacy groups warn that this could intensify the impact of invasive non-native species on local ecosystems.
A commonly cited example is Florida sliders (Trachemys scripta), which adapt readily to new environments and can become effective predators in local fauna.
Florida tortoise specimens. pixabay
Although fines remain substantial, many owners choose to release animals into ponds or pools when they reach a large size. The penalties can range from 3,001 euros to two million euros, depending on whether the circumstances are judged serious or very serious.
Sterilization is not enough
Foundations warn that sterilization obligations enshrined in law are insufficient, with a focus on dogs where adoption status can limit spaying to animals surrendered for adoption. Nevertheless, spaying and neutering remain widespread practices in many contexts.
For other species, the recommendation is to implement measures to prevent uncontrolled reproduction. In cats, sterilization is proposed to be mandatory before six months, though the regulation differentiates by species and context.
Concerns about the proposed method for managing cat colonies have been raised. Scientists and conservation groups argue that treating feral cats as nearly domestic is damaging to the environment because exotic species can disrupt native ecosystems. The debate centers on how best to balance welfare with ecological protection.
A man is feeding some stray cats. Juan Carlos Cardenas / EFE
Similarly, control measures are limited to the capture-sterilization-return (CER) approach. Critics describe this as impractical and scientifically dubious, contending that it contradicts established management tools for protected natural areas and key environmental directives in the country and across Europe. The latest data show that CER does not reliably reduce cat populations in open habitats, limiting its effectiveness for addressing uncontrolled growth or mitigating associated risks.
In fact, the sole study indicating a population decrease under CER requires sterilization and zero migration of at least 98% of individuals—a scenario not aligned with real-world conditions.
No more animal circuses
Other measures envisioned by the law, and already partially adopted by some regions, ban the use of wildlife in circuses. NGOs also lament that the rule stops short of eliminating domesticated participants such as horses, dogs, and cats. While groups have pressed for a complete ban similar to efforts in some territories, the current text leaves room for continued applications in certain venues. The document also narrows the scope of hunting pigeons but does not fully curb other activities.
Animals in the circus. pixabay
The proposals from advocacy groups include setting welfare and protection criteria for animals participating in fairs, pilgrimages, and similar events. They also seek to prohibit the use of animals in nativity scenes, parades, or procession displays that are unnatural for their species, even when animals are at rest or in motion.
Regarding the kinds of animals covered by this law, domestic animals are excluded from the scope, so the regulations will affect captive pets and wild species only. As a result, production animals are protected only when they lose their production purpose and are registered in the pet register. This shift marks a transition toward enhanced welfare oversight across the private and public sectors.
Sources and analysis have noted that the legislation reflects a broader trend toward stricter animal welfare standards while attempting to balance public safety, ecological integrity, and practical enforcement across jurisdictions .