Spain to allow support dogs access to all public spaces

The Spanish cabinet has approved a decree pushed by the Ministry of Social Rights that guarantees disabled people with support dogs access to public and private spaces anywhere in Spain.

The idea complements existing legislation at the regional level and seeks to eliminate any disparities that affect the rights of both disabled people and animals. For the Ministry, the older rules were predicated on an outdated definition of disability.

“It only considered visual disability; now it extends to all types of disability,” said the Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy.

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Reporting from Spanish daily El País says the change is “aimed at people with disabilities, also those with autism spectrum disorder, pathologies that cause recurrent crises involving sensory disconnection and women who are victims of gender and sexual violence.”

In terms of disabilities, the expansion will allow those with hearing impairment, deafness and blindness who need trained dogs, as well as those with physical disabilities who need them for physical support in their daily lives, to take the support animals with them wherever they go.

The dogs must carry an identification tag which gives them and the owner access to all public spaces, regardless of where in Spain they are.

This includes all educational, cultural, sports and health centres, except operating theatres and other areas where special hygienic conditions must be met. They will also be able to enter retail establishments such as supermarkets, markets and food shops, as well as tourist accommodation, hotels and restaurants, museums and theatres.

Access will be allowed to beaches, recreational areas, swimming pools and water parks, as long as the animal does not enter the water.

As for women who are victims of gender and sexual violence, the Ministry of Social Rights said in a statement that assistance dogs are allowed access to shelters and care centres.

The decree not only expands rights for the disabled but also the welfare of support dogs themselves, guaranteeing their right to retirement, as they will be able to stop providing service when they reach 10 years old, according to the changes.

The new regulations also address the training that support animals must receive. Training must be given by accredited or officially recognised trainers in the socialisation and training of support dogs, whether they belong to organisations or are specialised self-employed professionals.

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