The plenary hall of Council of Tenerife hosted last Friday a meeting of the Animal Welfare Council, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Javier Parrilla. In its womb it has been agreedurge the national and regional governments to conclude the legislative procedure that regulates animal welfare. The same administrations are also requested to create homogeneous ordinances for all municipalities adapted to these regulations.
“Without regulations, the limits of competence generate more doubts than positive actions”Javier Parrilla indicated. The counselor recalled that the investment in Animal Welfare planned by the Cabildo for 2022 exceeds one million euros (1,071,197) to which an additional 100,000 must be added from the remaining funds.
The session was attended by representatives of all the political parties in the institution, the Adepac, Fecapac and Animalia associations, as well as the Official College of Veterinarians and the technical managers of the Cabildo’s Livestock and Fisheries and Natural Environment areas. Representatives appointed by Fecam as spokespersons for the Metropolitan Area, North and South of the Island also attended.
A large part of the issues dealt with revolved around the problem with the control and collection of cats and the ways of collaboration between municipalities, which have the competence, and volunteering. The Cabildo undertakes to create work groups, according to the structure proposed by Fecam, which serve as training and information for the CER system (Capture, Sterilization and Return) by local administrations.
Groups such as Adepac expressed the need for municipalities to invest in cat sterilizationfor which the island institution is studying the possibility of investing 100,000 euros through the two shelters it has.
The advisor of the Canarian Coalition Antolín Bueno has been especially critical after repeatedly requesting the convening of this body. He assesses: “They have done it in an extraordinary way after almost two and a half years of the government group failing to comply with the regulations by not convening it once, as the regulation itself indicates, or at least three times as they promised.”
Well, remember that aspects such as the unanimously approved motion to allow pets access to public transport were discussed. The problem that affects the entire Island caused by cat colonies, both in urban and rural areas, was also raised. He adds that the precarious situation of all the shelters was also discussed. He criticizes the fact that the incorporation of new members to the Council, such as the Bar Association, has been “delayed”. He is important because of the decree of January 5 that turns animals into sentient beings and makes it “essential to know the regulations.”
“Disappointing after three hours of meeting,” he summarizes because “no commitments were made” and everything was left to “take note.” He believes that for some measures “it would be enough to put interest and provide them” by the councilor of the area. He concludes: “My feeling is that solutions are delayed that cannot wait for those sentient beings and it is necessary to act. The direct responsibility lies with the counselor who even has a budget for it».
