Recorded Cases Rise to 231 by August 2026

More than one crime against animals is being reported each day in Catalonia, according to data accessed by ARA from the Mossos d'Esquadra. By the end of August 2026, police had recorded 231 cases, surpassing the 251 incidents reported throughout all of 2025 and the 162 in 2024.

The increase is due to both better legal tools and greater social sensitivity.

Sub-inspector Gemma Ribera, from the Environment division of the Mossos d'Esquadra, attributes the rising numbers primarily to two factors: amendments to the Penal Code in 2023 and growing public awareness of animal welfare.

Before 2023, for an act to be considered a criminal offence, injuries to an animal had to cause serious harm to its health, a broad and subjective standard that often required complex veterinary reports and judicial interpretation. Now, under the revised legal framework inspired by assault laws for people, any injury requiring veterinary treatment qualifies as a criminal act. This change has simplified investigations and expanded protection to all vertebrate animals, including wild species previously excluded.

We now protect all vertebrates, whether domestic or wild, under human custody or not.

Ribera cited a case involving two foxes to illustrate the difference: abuse of a wild fox in its natural habitat could not previously be prosecuted, but abuse of a captured fox held in captivity was actionable. Since the 2023 reform, both scenarios fall under criminal protection.

Police Use Forensic Tools Similar to Homicide Cases

Investigations into animal crimes now routinely include necropsies, ballistics analysis when firearms are involved, and DNA testing. A recent case of horse abuse was solved after Mossos found a blood-stained tool at the animal’s enclosure. The horse’s genetic profile, officially registered in a national database, was matched to DNA on the weapon. Such forensic methods are increasingly standard, particularly in cases involving large animals like horses, which present logistical challenges in seizure and relocation. In these instances, the Mossos coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, while local councils take custody of seized animals.

Public Vigilance and Urban-Rural Divide

Most reports originate from neighbours or relatives observing signs of neglect, such as animals left tied for long periods or denied food and water. Ribera noted that societal attitudes are shifting, with pets increasingly seen as family members.

  • Dogs and cats remain the most commonly abused animals.
  • Urban environments report more alerts, though rural cases are also under scrutiny.
  • Animals used for work are not exempt from welfare checks.

Public safety officers carry a welfare indicator guide developed by the Veterinary College of Catalonia, enabling objective assessment of an animal’s physical condition and living environment.

People are now detecting behaviours that were once considered normal as potential abuse.

Cases also include vicarious violence, intentionally harming an animal to psychologically torment a partner, as well as abandonment posing clear vital risks.

What This Means for Residents

Anyone who suspects animal abuse can report it directly to the Mossos d'Esquadra via their official crime report portal. The updated legal framework means even minor injuries now constitute prosecutable offences, encouraging more public reporting.

Sources: Ara, Generalitat de Catalunya.