London —- Spain's iconic sport, bullfighting, is known for its ferocity and flair, but the centuries-old spectacle may have met its match in an equally tenacious opponent: Europe's animal-rights movement.

For the first time last week, doping tests were introduced at Spain's most prestigious bullfighting festival after allegations that bulls are given drugs to tip the balance in favor of the matador. Under pressure and falling ratings, Spanish TV has dropped bullfighting from its schedule.

The increasingly vocal anti-bullfighting lobby says it's only a matter of time before the sport is relegated to the history books.

"People in Europe are finally beginning to accept the animal-welfare message," said Kate Fowler-Reeves, head of campaigns for Animal Aid, the United Kingdom's largest animal-rights group.

These are heady days for Europe's animal-rights activists, who have pushed through a string of animal-welfare measures in recent months.

Perhaps the strongest measures are in Switzerland, where a law taking effect Sept. 1 requires dog owners to pay for and finish a two-part training course.

Among the lessons: theory on recognizing the needs of the animal and practical applications, including how to properly walk a dog on the street.

Under the Swiss law, anglers will have to take lessons on how to catch fish in a compassionate manner. Pet fish owners will have to provide aquarium lighting that maintains the natural cycle of day and night.

Owners of goldfish, guinea pigs, horses, parakeets and various other "social" creatures could be cited for animal abuse if the animal does not cohabit, or at least have contact, with others of its own kind.

Eva Waiblinger, a companion-animal welfare specialist at Swiss Animal Protection, said the regulations are enshrined in a vast body of legislation about 150 pages long that covers pet owners and farmers.

At least one Swiss newspaper has accused the government of wasting taxpayers' money.

Farmers' associations have argued that the law will make them less competitive on the international market.

Under the law, farmers also won't be allowed to keep pigs and cows in areas with hard floors.

Yet, across Europe, animal activism is catching on.

"In Russia, a number of medical schools have stopped the harmful use of animals," Fowler-Reeves said. "Croatia has introduced some pretty radical animal-protection legislation, including the banning of breeding animals for fur."

One setback, Fowler-Reeves said, was Austria's Supreme Court ruling this year that a chimpanzee cannot be declared a person.

An animal-rights group had sought to have the chimp, Matthew Hiasl Pan, declared a person in hopes of obtaining guardianship of the animal.

"The case was lost, but the fact it was brought at all was extremely encouraging," Fowler-Reeves said.

Another flash point of animal-rights concern is in Britain, where a growing number of local town councils and even swanky restaurants and department stores have banned the sale of foie gras, a delicacy popular in France.

Foie gras is a liver pate made by the force-feeding of ducks and geese.

It is already illegal to produce foie gras in Britain, although it can still be imported. Prince Charles recently banned the use of the pate at all official residences.

As Europe's animal activists see gains, another class might be up next for government protection: plants.

A group of Swiss activists have argued that decapitating flowers without reason, thus killing them arbitrarily, immoral.

ANIMAL ACTIVISM AROUND THE WORLD

> Britain: Banned hunting with dogs in 2005. Dogs can still be used to follow a scent but cannot be used to kill the fox. Banned the docking of animals' tails for cosmetic reasons.

> China: Closing restaurants in Beijing that sell dog meat, in the city's effort to change its image before the Olympic Games being in August.

> Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Singapore: Prohibited wild-animal circus acts.

> Israel: Banned the production of foie gras, liver of a duck or goose fattened by force-feeding.

> Italy: Banned use of animals on TV in any way that goes against their nature or subjects them to stress. In Rome, goldfish must be kept in proper, full-size aquariums.

> Scotland: Banned the sale of animals to people under 16 and banned giving animals as prizes.

> Southeast United States: Despite a booming Asian market for turtle meat, many states have restricted turtle exports.

> California: Will end the sale and production of foie gras by 2012.