Everything you need to know about mandatory dog insurance

March 10 , 2023 // Specialty

Published in El Correo

After a few days of negotiation and quite a bit of controversy, the Congress of Deputies finally gave the green light to the long-awaited Animal Welfare Law on February 9. Now the law has been sent to the Senate, where it must continue to be processed, but pending changes, we can already know the scope of the measures that the new regulation contemplates.

One of the most striking changes contained in the new law is the obligation to take a course —free, yes— if you want to have a dog as a pet. The other great novelty, undoubtedly the one that has aroused the most interest among those who have a dog, is the obligation to have civil liability insurance throughout the life of the animal.

To learn more about the matter, we have contacted Arkaitz Maroto, from Barakaldo Vet Shop, a well-known store and e-commerce specialized in veterinary health and pet food.

Arkaitz, what novelties will the new Animal Protection Law bring?
Many. For the first time, a series of obligations is established for pet owners in order to guarantee their protection, their health, their development and decent living conditions. It is also the first national law that regulates the possession of animals. Until now there was only regional legislation.

The measure that requires taking out insurance is the one that has aroused the most interest among dog owners. What does the law say about it?
Well, it says that insurance will be mandatory for each dog you have, something that at the moment only happens in some provinces such as Madrid or the Basque Country. We are talking about liability insurance; that is, they cover any damage or damage that the animal may cause to third parties.

Will all dogs need to have insurance or only certain breeds?
Not all. In fact, with the new law the list of dangerous breeds will disappear. From now on, the character of each animal will be evaluated individually, something that the veterinarian will have to do. That being said, it is clear that insurers will continue to take race into account when offering insurance, but it will not be the only factor on which the premium depends.

What other factors are there?
Well, there is the amount that you want to insure, of course, and also the age of the animal. And then of course there are the toppings. As I have said, the Law only contemplates civil liability, but there are many more options, and very interesting ones.

What modalities do you offer at Barakaldo Vet Shop?
We offer a basic civil liability insurance and an extended one. The difference is the insured amount. That would be the type of insurance that the Law will force to contract, the minimum, let's say. Then we have Accident Insurance, which covers any accident that the animal itself may suffer, but does not include damage to third parties. The next one would be the Complete Health Insurance that, to the above, would add coverage for illness. On this occasion, damages to third parties are not included either. To have it all, accidents, health and damages to third parties, we go to the Total Tranquility Insurance, which is the most complete.

When does it go into effect?
It is difficult to say, the law still has to finish its processing in the senate, where changes can be made. However, it does not seem that the issue of insurance is subject to debate at this point, so we can take it for granted that, when its processing is finished, the regulation will contemplate the compulsory nature of the insurance as it is currently included.