Vitoria-Gasteiz reviews the ordinance for the protection and ownership of animals

The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council has initially approved the modification of the ordinance regulating the protection, welfare, and responsible ownership of companion or family animals. The agreement was adopted by the municipal Plenary in an ordinary session on September 25, 2026, and is published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) number 114, dated October 5, 2026, with the official reference 2026-02767. The file will be open for public inspection for 30 business days so that interested parties may examine it and submit any claims they deem appropriate.

The announcement is signed by the mayor Maider Etxebarria García in Vitoria-Gasteiz, on September 25, 2026, and is issued in accordance with the provisions of article 203 of the organic regulation of the Plenary. The affected regulation governs the protection, welfare, and responsible ownership of companion or family animals in the municipality; therefore, the revision directly impacts the obligations of those who live with pets in the city.

Public exhibition of the file

The text is subject to public information before its final approval. According to the announcement published in the BOTHA, the file is available to the public under the following conditions:

• Place of consultation: San Martín municipal offices, calle Pintor Teodoro Dublang 25, ground floor.
• Period: 30 business days.
• Admitted procedures: examination of the file and submission of claims or suggestions.
• Effect of silence: if no claim or suggestion is submitted, the provisional agreement will be understood as definitively approved.

Scope of the modification

The ordinance under review covers three areas: animal protection, welfare, and responsible ownership. The modification initially approved by the Plenary refers to the regulation governing coexistence with companion or family animals in Vitoria-Gasteiz, meaning its targets are the owners and keepers of pets in the municipality.

The reference framework for this type of regulation consists of Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the protection of animal rights and welfare, and Law 9/2022, of June 30, on the protection of domestic animals of the Basque Country, which establish the obligations of the owners and the regime of responsible ownership and coexistence.

Processing and next steps

The procedure follows the usual sequence for municipal ordinances:

• Initial approval by the Plenary in an ordinary session on September 25, 2026.
• Publication of the announcement in the BOTHA number 114, dated October 5, 2026.
• Opening of the 30-business-day public exhibition period.
• Automatic final approval if no claims or suggestions are submitted.

The announcement is published in Section II, Local Administration of the Historical Territory of Álava, within the section corresponding to the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council and its General Secretariat of the Plenary.

Impact for owners

The revision of the ordinance affects all pet owners in Vitoria-Gasteiz, who will see updated rules regarding the protection, welfare, and responsible ownership of their animals. The public information period allows associations, animal protection entities, and individuals to submit allegations before the text is finalized. Publication in the BOTHA is the official channel for accessing the file and exercising this right within the established timeframe.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 114, October 5, 2026, section II (Local Administration of the Historical Territory of Álava), p. 1 (official reference: 2026-02767).