Could Spain Be A New Nation Of Animal Lovers?
This March 2011 news article examines public attitudes toward animals and recent events in Spain to find evidence of increasing concern for animal welfare among the Spanish.
Historically the Spanish have not been as sympathetic to animal welfare concerns as the British or Germans. However this appears to be changing as the country gains more wealth and stability. Evidence of this shift in attitude can be implied from several different sources and events:
- A survey by Intervet/Schering-Plough found that 98% of Spanish respondents believe a person should go to jail for abusing animals, and that laws should become more strict to criminalize cruelty.
- In 2010, the Catalan parliament voted to ban bullfighting after receiving a petition signed by 180,000 citizens.
- Bullfighting was recently banned from live television broadcast.
- An increasing number of animal charities are emerging across the country.
- A recent bequest from a single woman to her companion animals amounting to the single largest inheiritance ever left to animals so far in the country.