Overview

• The suspension covers only the municipal shelter in the Catalan city of roughly 230,000 residents near Barcelona.
• Deputy Mayor Noel Duque said the pause aims to prevent "macabre practices" and cruelty linked to Halloween.
• Authorities reported an uptick in pre‑Halloween calls that emphasized a cat’s black color, which they deemed suspicious.
• Terrassa’s adoption rules require proof that prospective owners will provide proper care rather than adopt on impulse or for fashion.
• Officials describe the action as temporary and preventive, with no specific local incidents of ritual abuse cited in current reports.