Barcelona is an animal-friendly city. We have been working on their defence and protection for many years, with the collaboration and support of all the organisations and volunteers concerned. 

We have made progress in many areas, so that Barcelona has become an international benchmark and a pioneering city in animal welfare policies, in both Catalonia and Spain. Among other measures, we have promoted responsible ownership in order to combat and penalise the mistreatment and abandonment of animals; we have been an anti-bullfighting city since 2004, and we have made it possible for Barcelona to be a city without any lucrative activities based on working animals. 

We also promote innovative policies which link animal welfare with social problems. For example, by launching a pilot project that enables people who use centres for the homeless and people with mental health problems to stay with their cats and dogs, as well as promoting the adoption of cats to combat loneliness among senior citizens who use the Vincles BCN programme. 

In Barcelona, there is one cat for every ten inhabitants. For many years, we have therefore been reinforcing measures that ensure harmonious coexistence. In 2002, we were the first Catalan city to impose zero sacrifice and the dog pound was renamed the Centre d’Acollida d’Animals de Companyia, or Pet Shelter (CAACB). In 2014, we allowed dogs to be taken onto metro trains, and in 2016, on trams. During the same year, Barcelona inaugurated its first beach for dogs. 

At the same time, we are firmly committed to caring for the city's cats, as well as an ethical management system for controlling the overpopulation of pigeons, wild boar and parakeets. And thanks to the ZOOXXI citizens’ initiative, we are developing a new kind of zoo, which is ethical and focuses on the reintroduction of endangered species. 

We still have a lot to do. For our part, we will continue to work towards guaranteeing animal welfare and improving coexistence in public spaces, where animals and people can both benefit.