In the Spanish town of town council in Trigueros del Valle, politicians have just voted overwhelmingly in favour of creating what are “human rights” for our four legged friends.
The municipality which is home to 330 humans in the Castile and León region, has decided to give dogs and cats similar rights to men and women.
Describing the animals as “non-human residents”, Pedro Pérez Espinosa, the town’s Socialist mayor said,
“Dogs and cats have been living among us for over a 1,000 years, and the mayor must represent not just the human residents but must also be here for the others.”
Animal rights group Rescate 1, said the vote was a move in the right direction, and would protect pets, “Today, we are closer as species and we are now more human thanks to the sensitivity and intelligence shown by the people of Trigueros del Valle. This is a great day for humans and non-human citizens alike.”
Spain is famous for its bullfighting culture, and although the practice is outlawed in many cities already, the new laws include a provision that bans “any action that causes the mutilation or death of a non-human resident”.
There is expected to be an appeal against the verdict.
Do you think animals deserve human rights?
