How to register a dog or pet in Barcelona

What to register and where

If your dog, cat or ferret usually lives in Barcelona, the official companion animal register is different from a pet shop customer record. A microchip identifies the animal; the municipal census and Catalonia's General Companion Animal Register (ANICOM) connect its details to the responsible person. The Catalan government says that animals requiring identification must be identified and registered, and that subsequent changes must be reported. Barcelona offers a specific procedure for registration, removal and amendment of census details.

Five checks before you start

• Check that the veterinary identification document shows the microchip number and that the owner's name agrees with the documents you will submit. If the animal is not identified yet, visit a registered veterinarian first.
• Note the date of birth, acquisition or change of address. The Catalan government's procedure sets out three months after birth and thirty days after acquisition, relocation, death or a change of details. Check the current deadlines on the official procedure before applying.
• Keep adoption, sale or transfer paperwork when applicable. A change of owner may require proof; for a donation, the authority specifies the details and signatures of both people.
• If the animal came from abroad or another Spanish register, read the documentation section: a passport or evidence of prior identification may be required depending on its origin.
• Have an up-to-date email address and contact address ready. They are especially useful if the animal is lost or you need to show that a change was reported.

Registering an animal in Barcelona

Open the city procedure titled «Registre al cens d'animals (Inscripció, Baixa, Modificació)» and choose registration. Read the submission channels and document list shown when you apply: administrative conditions can change. If you choose the Catalan government route, its page explains how to communicate information to ANICOM and the municipal census, complete the form, submit it and obtain a receipt. Avoid filing duplicate requests before checking the status of the first one.

Keep the receipt and registration number, as well as the registration record when it arrives. The Catalan procedure says the record may be emailed when you provide an address. If the application remains pending, follow the official contact method for your case; a filing receipt is not the same as confirmation that registration is complete.

Changes, lost pets and common mistakes

Moving within Barcelona, changing a phone number or transferring ownership can make your registered contact details obsolete. Check which changes you must report and keep a copy of the response. If you move to another municipality, check its own census procedure: the relevant authority depends on where the animal normally lives. If your pet is lost, promptly check its microchip and contact information and use the city's channels for reporting lost animals.

A common mistake is to assume that a microchip, a vet appointment or signing up with a shop automatically replaces official registration. These are separate steps. Nor does the number of registered animals equal the actual pet population: our district chart shows historic 2018 registrations and cannot tell you how many animals live on your street today.

Explore further

Use our directory to find reviewed veterinary listings, and compare Barcelona's ten districts using the historic census chart. If you want Mia-Pets to keep your pet details for our own communications, use the «Register my pet» form; that shop form is separate from the official census.

Keep the official record up to date after a move

A registered animal can change address without changing microchip. When your household moves within Barcelona, ask the municipal service which register fields must be updated and what identification documents it currently requires. Keep the chip number, registration receipt and the contact details of the person responsible together. If you adopted an animal, do not assume the previous keeper completed a transfer simply because the chip can be read. A veterinarian or the relevant public office can explain how to confirm and correct the ownership details.

The chart on this site visualises a published historical dataset: it does not establish the current number of dogs or cats in every street. Compare districts only for the same year and definition, and check whether the source counts registered animals or resident people with animals. A larger district can have more registrations without having a higher share per resident. For practical local help, use our district pages and veterinary directory; for a legally valid registration, use the municipal procedure itself.

Official ANICOM lookup

If you already have the microchip number and need to check ANICOM, use our ANICOM lookup guide or open the official Catalan government application ↗.