The presence of dogs in everyday life, by Anna Renner

 I have loved my time in Seville for many reasons, but primarily because of the loving atmosphere. Every day, as I walk through my neighborhood, Los Remedios, on Asunción Street, I see families, children playing, people laughing, and most importantly to me...dogs! I have three dogs back home in the United States and adore animals. I was surprised to see so many dogs able to sit at restaurants with their owners, in the streets of one of the largest cities of Spain, and inside some stores and restaurants as well. In the United States, it is often prohibited for dogs to enter restaurants or stores, especially when they are indoors. I find the restaurant experience far more fulfilling when four-legged creatures are also allowed inside! I noticed that most of the dogs here are either off-leash or on a regular leash and have not seen any electric shock collars, spikes, or harnesses. In the United States, I regularly see dogs with shock collars or spikes and harnesses. Many dogs in the United States bark a lot and the dogs here have been very tame, which could explain this difference. I also noticed that there were no stores selling animals. In the United States, many stores sell animals like PetSmart. After some research, it came to my attention that it is illegal to put a shock collar or spikes on your dog and it is also illegal to sell animals in stores like PetSmart. The only way to get a dog here would be to get a dog from a breeder. Spain seems to have more regulatory laws than the United States when it comes to dogs, and I like that Spain is actively protecting more animals. Stray dogs and animal mistreatment is a problem in the United States and the implementation of similar laws may help combat that problem. It has been fascinating to observe the many cultural differences between Seville and the United States, and I am excited to continue learning and adapting to the culture here (through the process of acculturation and deculturation)! My time in Seville has already been truly special, largely due to the warm and loving atmosphere that permeates the city which is exemplified by the presence of dogs in everyday life.

External Source Link: https://www.euronews.com/2023/09/29/spains-new-animal-welfare-law-explained-what-you-can-and-cant-do