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Updated: October 2026

Spain’s animal shelters are full of dogs and cats waiting for a home, and many foreign residents adopt within months of arriving. Adopting is usually cheaper than buying, the animal comes vaccinated, microchipped and often sterilised, and you give a home to an animal that really needs one. This guide explains how adoption works in Spain, what the animal welfare law expects from you and where to start on the Costa del Sol.

Why adopt in Spain

• Many animals need homes. Abandonment is still a problem in Spain, especially after summer and the hunting season, when many hunting dogs (galgos and podencos) are left behind.
• Pet shops can no longer sell dogs and cats. Under the animal welfare law (Ley 7/2023), dogs, cats and ferrets may only be sold directly by registered breeders, so adoption from a shelter is one of the main routes to a new pet.
• The animal comes prepared. Shelters normally hand over animals with a microchip, the basic vaccinations, a health check and – depending on age – sterilisation.

How adoption works, step by step

1. Look online first. Most shelters show their animals on their website or social media, with age, size and character. Many also have English-speaking volunteers.
2. Fill in an adoption form. Expect questions about your home, garden, working hours, other pets, children and whether you rent (some shelters ask for the landlord’s permission).
3. Meet the animal. You visit the shelter, walk the dog or meet the cat, often more than once. Bring the whole family and any dog you already have.
4. Home check. Some shelters visit your home or ask for photos of the garden and fences.
5. Contract and fee. You sign an adoption contract and pay an adoption fee that helps cover vaccines, microchip and sterilisation. The contract usually lets the shelter follow up and requires you to return the animal to them, not give it away, if things do not work out.
6. Registration. The microchip is transferred to your name in the regional pet register – in Andalucía the RAIA. The shelter or your vet arranges this.

Fostering: try before you commit

If you are not sure you can adopt – for example because you may move again soon – consider fostering (acogida). You look after an animal at home for a few weeks or months while the shelter looks for a permanent family. Shelters usually cover food and vet costs. It is also a good way to find out whether a dog suits your lifestyle.

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What the animal welfare law expects from you

The national animal welfare law (Ley 7/2023) applies to every pet owner in Spain, foreign residents included. The main points:

• Dogs, cats and ferrets must be microchipped and registered.
• Animals may not be left alone for long periods – for dogs, not more than 24 hours in a row – and must not live permanently on a terrace, balcony or roof.
• Cats must be sterilised before six months of age, unless they are registered for breeding.
• The law also foresees a free course for dog owners and compulsory third-party liability insurance for dogs, but both still depend on a regulation that has not been approved yet. Until then, insurance is only compulsory for potentially dangerous dogs (PPP) and where regional or local rules require it. Many owners take it out anyway, because it is cheap protection if the dog causes an accident.

More detail in our guide to Spain’s animal welfare law and to pet insurance in Spain. If you want cover for vet bills and liability, providers such as Petplan (ad) offer pet insurance in Spain.

Shelters on the Costa del Sol and in Málaga province

These are some of the shelters and rescue groups in the area. Most welcome adopters, foster homes and volunteers – contact them first, as opening hours and needs change.

• Sociedad Protectora de Animales y Plantas de Málaga – Málaga city. protectoramalaga.com
• Suspiros de Cuatro Patas – Málaga. suspirosdecuatropatas.org
• Asociación Protectora Fidelio – Benalmádena. asociacionfidelio.org
• PAD (Protectora de Animales Domésticos) – Mijas. padmijas.org
• ACE / SHIN – Mijas. ace-charity.org
• Triple A Marbella – Marbella and San Pedro. tripleamarbella.org
• ADANA – Estepona. adana.es
• Galgos en Familia – greyhound rescue, Málaga. galgosenfamilia.org
• Axarquía Animal Rescue – east of Málaga. axarquiaanimalrescue.com

See all our pet guides and the full shelter list on Pets in Spain.

Before you bring your new pet home

• Register with a local vet and ask about vaccines, parasite protection and the leishmaniasis vaccine or collar for dogs – leishmaniasis is spread by sandflies and common in southern Spain.
• Check your rental contract or community rules on pets.
• Plan for summer: shade, water and walks early and late in the day.
• If you may travel, ask your vet for an EU pet passport.

Useful links

• BOE: Ley 7/2023 on animal rights and welfare (Spanish)
• Moving to Spain with a dog or cat
• Pet insurance in Spain
• Pets in Spain: all guides and shelters

FAQ: adopting a pet in Spain

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. Rules and shelter details change; check with the shelter, your vet or the town hall. Links marked “(ad)” are affiliate links – NewInSpain may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Updated: October 2026

Vets in Spain are generally good value compared with northern Europe, but an operation, a broken leg or a long illness can still cost several thousand euros. At the same time, Spain’s animal welfare law has made liability insurance for dogs a topic every owner should know about. This guide explains the different types of pet insurance in Spain, what is and is not compulsory, and what to check before you sign.

Is pet insurance compulsory in Spain?

The animal welfare law, Ley 7/2023, says that dog owners must have third-party liability insurance (seguro de responsabilidad civil) covering damage their dog causes to other people. However, the obligation depends on an implementing regulation that sets the minimum cover, and that regulation is still pending. Until it is approved, the general obligation is not yet enforced.

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There are two important exceptions. Owners of potentially dangerous dogs (perros potencialmente peligrosos, such as certain breeds and large, powerful dogs) already need a municipal licence and liability insurance under the older law on dangerous animals. Some regions and town halls also have their own rules, so ask at your ayuntamiento when you register your dog.

Health insurance for vet bills is never compulsory. It is a personal choice, and for many owners it is about peace of mind.

The three types of cover

• Liability insurance (responsabilidad civil): pays if your dog bites someone, causes a traffic accident or damages property. It is often cheap and can sometimes be added to your home insurance – check whether your policy already includes pets.
• Vet health insurance (seguro de salud): pays part of your vet bills for illness and accidents, for example operations, hospital stays, tests and medicines. This is what most people mean by pet insurance.
• Accident-only cover: a cheaper option that only pays for injuries from accidents, not for illness.

What to check before you sign

• Age limits: many insurers only accept new pets up to a certain age, and premiums rise as the animal gets older. Insuring a young animal is usually easier and cheaper.
• Waiting periods (carencia): cover for illness often starts only after a few weeks. Accidents are usually covered sooner.
• Pre-existing conditions: illnesses your pet already has are normally excluded.
• Excess and co-payment: check how much you pay yourself per claim or per year.
• Annual limit: some policies cap what they pay per year or per condition.
• Choice of vet: some policies let you use any vet and claim the money back; others only work with partner clinics.
• Language: make sure you understand the policy and claims process. Ask for documents in English if your Spanish is not strong.

Health risks that make cover worth considering

Spain’s warm climate brings diseases that pets from northern Europe may never have met, such as leishmaniasis (spread by sandflies) and processionary caterpillars in pine areas. Treatment can be long and expensive. Our guide to moving to Spain with a dog or cat explains the main risks and how to prevent them.

Where to compare pet insurance

Ask your vet which insurers their clinic works with, and compare at least two or three quotes. For dogs, Petplan (ad) offers health and accident policies in Spain, and you can get a price online in a few minutes. Spanish banks and home insurers also sell pet cover, often as an add-on.

Useful links

• Ley 7/2023 on animal welfare (BOE, Spanish)
• Legal Today: why the dog insurance obligation depends on a regulation (Spanish)

FAQ: pet insurance in Spain

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Rules and policy terms change – check the conditions with the insurer and local rules with your town hall before you decide.

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Updated: October 2026

Bringing a dog or cat to Spain takes more planning than booking your own flight. This guide is for anyone moving with a pet, whether from another EU country, the UK or further afield. It walks you through the timeline, the travel options, your first weeks after arrival and the health risks that are specific to the Spanish climate. For the legal side of owning a pet here, see our separate guide to Spain’s animal welfare law.

Start with the paperwork timeline

The entry rules for dogs, cats and ferrets are set at EU level, so they are the same whether you land in Málaga, Madrid or Barcelona. What changes is how long the preparation takes, and that depends on where you are coming from.

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The basic sequence is the same for everyone:

1. Microchip: an ISO-standard microchip must be implanted before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccination. A vaccine given before the chip does not count.
2. Rabies vaccine: the animal must be at least 12 weeks old. After the first vaccination you wait at least 21 days before travelling. Spain does not accept unvaccinated puppies or kittens.
3. Blood test (some countries only): if you come from a country with a higher rabies risk, a blood sample is taken at least 30 days after vaccination, tested in an EU-approved laboratory, and you then wait three months before entry.
4. Travel document: an EU pet passport for EU residents, or an animal health certificate from an official vet for everyone else, together with a signed declaration that the move is not commercial.

You can bring up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial move. Spain does not require tapeworm treatment for dogs on arrival, but other countries on your route might. The Spanish agriculture ministry answers common questions in its pet travel FAQ (in Spanish), and the European Commission explains the rules for bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country.

Moving from the UK

Pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel to the EU. Each trip needs an animal health certificate, which your vet in the UK issues and which must be used within 10 days. Check the latest details on GOV.UK’s pet travel page before you book, as the rules have changed several times since Brexit. Once you live in Spain, a Spanish vet can issue an EU pet passport, which makes future trips much easier.

Choosing how to travel

• By car: often the least stressful option for larger dogs and multi-pet households. Plan breaks every few hours, never leave the animal in a parked car in warm weather and book pet-friendly hotels along the route in advance.
• By ferry: routes from the UK and Italy to Spain usually offer kennels or pet-friendly cabins, but these sell out early in summer. Ask exactly where the animal stays during the crossing.
• By plane in the cabin: many airlines allow a small dog or cat in an approved soft carrier under the seat. Each airline sets its own weight limit and number of pets per flight, so reserve the pet place when you book.
• By plane in the hold: larger animals travel as checked baggage or cargo in an IATA-approved crate. Some airlines restrict snub-nosed breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats, and some limit hold transport in hot months.
• Pet relocation companies: useful for long-haul moves. Get a written quote that lists what is included.

Pets arriving from outside the EU must come through a designated travellers’ point of entry, where documents and the microchip can be checked. Not every Spanish airport or port is one, so confirm your arrival point with your airline or ferry company. Keep the original documents in your hand luggage, not in a suitcase.

Finding a home that accepts pets

The rental market is the biggest practical hurdle for many pet owners. Many landlords exclude animals in the contract, and the rules of a building’s community of owners can limit pets in shared areas such as gardens and pools. Mention your pet from the first contact, offer references from a previous landlord and expect that some landlords will ask for a higher deposit or additional guarantee. Read the pet clause carefully before signing. Our guide to renting in Spain as a foreigner covers contracts and deposits in more detail.

For dogs, a ground-floor flat with a terrace or a house with a fenced garden makes daily life easier. Check where the nearest green space is: many town centres have few parks, and dogs are generally banned from beaches outside designated dog beaches.

Your first weeks in Spain

1. Register with a local vet. Bring all vaccination records. The vet can enter your pet’s microchip in the regional animal registry, which every autonomous community runs (in Andalucía it is the RAIA).
2. Check your town hall. Many ayuntamientos keep a municipal pet census and have by-laws on leads, dog mess and beaches. Ask about it when you sign up for the padrón, since you will be at the town hall anyway.
3. Get liability cover. Third-party insurance for dogs is written into national law but still awaits its implementing regulation. Owners of potentially dangerous breeds already need a licence and insurance. Even if it is not compulsory for your dog yet, cover is sensible and often cheap to add to home insurance. Vet bills are a separate matter: pet health insurance is worth comparing, and Petplan (ad) offers policies for dogs in Spain.
4. Ask about an EU pet passport. If you arrived with a non-EU certificate, your new vet can issue one once your pet’s details are registered.

Health risks to know about

Spain’s warm climate brings parasites and hazards that pets from northern Europe may never have met. Talk to your new vet about a prevention plan in the first weeks.

• Leishmaniasis: a serious disease spread to dogs by sandflies, common in much of Spain. Vets usually recommend repellent collars or spot-ons during the warm months, and there are vaccines. Ask whether an annual blood test makes sense.
• Pine processionary caterpillars: in late winter and spring, these caterpillars walk in lines near pine trees. Their hairs can cause severe reactions in a dog’s mouth and tongue. Keep dogs away and see a vet immediately if your dog touches one.
• Ticks, fleas and heartworm: year-round protection is common in southern Spain, where winters are mild.
• Heat: walk dogs early in the morning and late in the evening in summer, test pavement temperature with your hand and always carry water. Our heatwave safety guide explains Spain’s heat warnings.
• Foxtails: dry grass seeds (espigas) can work their way into ears, paws and noses in late spring and summer. Check your dog after walks in the countryside.

Everyday life with a pet in Spain

Spain is increasingly pet-friendly. Many terraces welcome dogs, some shopping centres and shops allow them inside, and dog beaches are spreading along the coast. Public transport rules vary: small pets in carriers are usually allowed on buses and trains, while larger dogs face more restrictions depending on the operator and city. Dogs must be on a lead in most urban areas, and owners are expected to pick up after their dog and, in many towns, rinse urine with water. Fines for ignoring local rules can be significant.

Useful links

• Your Europe: travelling with pets – EU pet passport and the five-pet limit
• European Commission: bringing a pet from a non-EU country
• Spanish agriculture ministry: pet travel FAQ (Spanish)
• GOV.UK: taking your pet abroad
• Spain’s animal welfare law: what pet owners must know
• Renting in Spain as a foreigner
• Home insurance in Spain

FAQ: moving to Spain with a pet

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not veterinary or legal advice. Pet travel rules, airline policies and local by-laws can change – always check with your vet, carrier and the official sources before you travel.