How to legalize six hens, three ducks, three geese and two donkeys
My name is Joan Estarriola i Vilardell. I live in Fontcoberta, in Pla de l'Estany, in a 14th-century farmhouse located on a property of about 10,000 m².2 of land. Although I've been retired for over five years, I still feel like a farmer and have ventured into tending a vegetable garden, a small vineyard, and a small olive grove. Like a cat with no job, I've set out to move, with all its nuances and to the extent possible, towards self-sufficiency and sustainability.
I thought that, to complete the cycle, it would be good to have half a dozen hens and venture into raising ducks and geese (I have another six between us), for the sake of eggs and natural meat, or as they call it now, organic meat. Besides, about a year and a half ago I was given two donkeys that help me control the weeds and clear the little bit of woodland we have. Needless to say, this modest flock serves as a kind of farm school for my grandchildren (we have seven), whom I don't want to grow up too disconnected from the land.
You can't deny that the idea is good. Well, it hasn't all been smooth sailing.
A couple of months ago, the City Council issued a statement informing everyone that they had animals for their own consumption should declare them, in order to create a register and be able to act quickly in case of epidemics.
—Look how great—I thought—. Finally, an easy and practical procedure that can be carried out from the City Hall.
How wrong I was! When I had a moment, I went. But, oh surprise! What I thought would be a simple formality—filling out a form indicating the number and variety of animals and their location; waiting for the City Hall to notify me where necessary, send the appropriate person to carry out the inspection to detect anomalies in the facilities, and tell me what corrections I should make—has not been like that at all.
It turns out the paperwork must be done at the regional offices of the department. You need to fill out a form stating the location of the animals, indicating the owner, their phone number, and the address with coordinates. Then, another form is required for poultry, stating the owner, address, phone number, a sketch of the enclosure, and its condition. A third form is needed to register donkeys, with the owner's information, address, phone number, a sketch of the enclosure, and its condition. Once all this is submitted, the department's technicians will visit the facility to check if it complies with regulations. If it does, they will issue a favorable report; if not, the necessary corrections will need to be made. Once these corrections are completed, you must notify them so they can return to verify that they are correct. If they are correct, the report will be positive. After that, you can register all the livestock in the municipal registry.
Does this end here? No! On December 3rd, I received a call from the office saying I need to prove ownership of the property and that, until I do, the process is on hold. I've been paying property taxes for 24 years. Everything is in my name. Now I have to prove ownership? Now I have to get the inheritance accepted and submit a photocopy?
And all this just to register six hens, three ducks, three geese, and two donkeys. Don't you think this is like trying to kill flies in a pipe? If we overcomplicate regulations and procedures, we're encouraging people to ignore and circumvent them. Couldn't we make it simpler? What will they ask of someone with a family farm? Or someone who wants to start a business? It's no wonder professionals and entrepreneurs are furious: besides being brave and daring, they have to get themselves out of this enormous bureaucratic web. We complain about the disappearance of trades and business ventures, but the administration, which should be helping them, only throws obstacles in their path.
In most of the demonstrations and sectoral complaints, there's a common thread: the demand to simplify paperwork. I've heard this cry my whole life, but the more time passes, the more complicated it gets. The curious thing is that there's a consensus. Everyone I've spoken to—politicians and party colleagues, mayors from different political stripes, the self-employed, farmers, and friends—agrees that our administration, generally speaking and with a few exceptions, is highly inefficient.
We're used to blaming the central government for our problems. But come on, there are many issues that don't depend on Madrid, that don't cost money to solve, and don't require permission: all it takes is will and common sense. I refuse to believe that in this country there isn't anyone with that will and a modicum of common sense to take the first step, bell the cat, and start changing things. We would all benefit.
And I could register the poultry and donkeys without any problems.
