The Council of Tenerife committed to improving the facilities of the Valle Colino regional animal shelter. The head of the Animal Welfare area, Javier Parrilla, explains that “from the beginning we proposed our collaboration to try to find solutions.” He refers to the large number of animals collected that exceed the capacity of the center and led to the decision not to receive more cats.
Parrilla explains that “we have met with those responsible and with the four municipalities to which it provides service (Santa Cruz, La Laguna, El Rosario and Tegueste)”. Santa Cruz and La Laguna have proposed that the insular institution assume the management».
Regarding a possible change in planning, he assesses: «Our technical services report that it is not possible to modify it and so we have transferred it to the town halls». Parrilla understands that “the objective is to try to undertake an adaptation and expansion of the shelter on the slope attached to Valle Colino. We are waiting for La Laguna to confirm if the soil on that plot is compatible.” In this case, he points out, “we are willing to collaborate with the municipalities and provide the economic resources that are agreed to transform the space and improve care for animals.”
The Cabildo allocates this year 1,234,190 euros to Animal Welfare which is 15% more than in 2022. Among other investments, to continue improving the Tierra Blanca (Fasnia) and El Ravelo (El Sauzal) refuges. The president, Pedro Martín, highlights “the total turnaround that we have given to animal protection and care policies in these four years of mandate”, as well as the investments “to convert the shelters that we manage into animal welfare spaces and not places of storage”.
Martín visited the facilities of the Tierra Blanca Animal Protection Center together with Parrilla. He advanced that in two months the works will have been completed to replace the roof of warehouse 1, in which asbestos was detected, as well as the three exercise and walk yards (298 square meters each), so that dogs can exercise and socialize, fundamental issues to improve your health.
Measures in other shelters
This year, moreover, the project for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and a veterinary clinic in the Ravelo refuge will be launched. In the same way, a path and the adequacy of the cheniles (kennels) and the entrance are contemplated.
Parrilla recalls that in Tierra Blanca the Cabildo concluded in 2021 the construction of a new warehouse for 450,000 euros. Added to this is the conditioning of garden areas, the creation of others for walks and exercise, new veterinary units and facilities for farm staff or training and awareness actions with school groups.
“Dignifying the lives of animals”
“Since the beginning of the mandate we have worked to dignify the lives of refugee animals.” Pedro Martín explains it, who adds: “We want dogs to be able to play, interact and exercise, but also to receive care and health care while waiting for them to be accepted for adoption.” Parrilla recalls that “this government team established the Island Council for Animal Protection and Welfare in 2020”, a consultative and advisory body in which institutions and groups participate. He concludes: “We have responded to unattended problems since 2013.” | JDM
