The problem with laws like this is that those who advocate for them always have the “sweet” dogs in mind, never the miserable, vicious ones. The challenge is to write and enforce the law in a way that protects both the animals AND the people. Vicious dogs do bite and even kill, and I’ve yet to see a law like this that adequately protects the human victims, only the animals and their irresponsible owners.

Another thing to watch may be the application of the law to the bulls. It’s obvious that they are mistreated during the various festivals, yet I doubt the law will be written in a way that protects them.

Something else that may be interesting to watch is pet euthanasia. Evidently the law proposes a prison sentence for anyone who kills OR abandons a dog. Well, how are dog owners supposed to get rid of dogs they can no longer care for? I’m betting that a medicalized death via a vet will be allowed, although this raises the question of why the law should specify the means rather than the end. And if euthanasia isn’t permitted, something tells me that the law will be violated. Say a dog-owner dies and the kids live in an apartment that prohibits dogs. Unless there’s also a network of animal shelters adequate for the number of unwanted pets, I don’t see a solution.

My point here is that laws like these are very difficult to write wisely, so you have to be careful about supporting them simply because you feel sorry for the sweet abandoned dogs. The goal is worthy, but the law may not be.