Brits living in Majorca with trusty companions are being issued an urgent fine warning.
Calvia’s Animal Welfare department is cracking down on pets who are not microchipped. In 2022, it became a legal requirement in Spain to microchip your pet.
Failing to microchip your pet is an offence under the Law for the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals, and those who do not adhere to the rules could be fined €10,000 (£8,400).
You could also face a €600 (£506) fine if you fail to pick up your dog's poo. Calvia’s Animal Welfare, which has come up with the slogan ‘Poop is only funny on Whatsapp’, is warning that it is compulsory to pick up dog excrement on the public highway. Failure to do so is a serious offence under municipal by-laws.
The welfare department is also reminding pet owners that all dogs in Spain are required to be on the lead in public places, regardless of their size or breed.
Any dogs listed as potentially dangerous or on the dangerous dogs' list should also be muzzled. Owners of such dogs may need a special license.
However, several dog parks across Calvia are where your four-legged friends can run freely.
Last year, locals living near Puig de sa Morisca, an archaeological park in Santa Ponsa, were up in arms over the abandonment of dog droppings and irresponsible pet walking, which has caused insecurity among children and adults and a negative impact on the wildlife.
As a result, the Parc Puig de Sa Morisca team has set up a project to address issues in the park. This includes an information point at the park's entrance, which aims to gather opinions to find joint solutions. A dog waste collection activity will also take place at the entrance and on the park's main trails.
The project will be promoted on social media through the @parcsamorisca account.
The park is warning those behaving in an unethical that they could face fines of up to €3,000 (£2,531).
