[Hello, we are considering moving from the east coast of Canada to southern Spain, somewhere around Granada most likely.  My biggest concern is animal welfare - we have four large dogs (want more) and two cats.  I travel extensively to be with my husband and need to be sure I can find GOOD child care for our pets so that they aren’t abused or mistreated in any way, shape or form.  I’d read in another forum that this is a concern in Spain.  For this reason, we had moved our attentions to moving to France and may still go there, but we’re just checking it out.  Can someone help?  many thanks, LInda

Excuse me?

In my part of Granada province people love their dogs and cats.  I think the problem with caring for your animals while you’re away from home will be the same wherever you live. You’ll need to find a good kennel and cattery, and there are good ones and bad ones in Spain, France and elsewhere.  Better still would be to establish relationships with a regular home-sitter so the animals can be cared for at your place.  There’s no earthly reason why this would be more or less difficult in Spain or France.  Or Canada, for that matter.

Hi renewU,

In general Spaniards love animals just as much as anyone else.  I can tell you that the only concern for a pampered house dogs are in small farm villages, since older generations look at dogs as strictly for outdoors.

In the past I’ve brought my dog from the states to Spain and when I visited my grandparents house in the farm villages of Galicia, they do sure look at you strange for treating a dog like part of the family and not just an animal.

Hi, no direct experience, but have heard nothing but good about these people…they are situated about five miles 8Kms from me in rural Granada province, about thirty minutes drive from Granada Airport.
http://www.residenciacaninadelagos.com/

The site is all in Spanish Im afraid…