The mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, has brought attention to the startling discovery of 47 abandoned dogs in the northern municipality within just a single month. Out of these dogs, 39 have already been taken in by the realejero animal care service, while 8 remain in remote areas of the municipality, posing difficulties in locating them. During a press conference alongside the Councilor for Animal Welfare, Josué Bacallado, and the person in charge of the animal shelter Peludos Felices, José León, Adolfo González expressed his “deep concern” about this situation.
“The recent occurrences are not solely linked to the residents of Los Realejos,” explained the mayor, emphasizing that “we have evidence indicating that some dogs were abandoned by individuals from neighboring municipalities. However, upon realizing the availability of our collection service, they either inform our Local police or directly reach out to the dedicated rescue organization Peludos Felices.
Adolfo González affirmed that Los Realejos will uphold its responsibility in retrieving abandoned animals, while urging the public “to assume social responsibility in pet ownership, as owning an animal entails a commitment protected by law.” He also called for shared responsibility among all municipalities in handling and safeguarding animals in situations of abandonment or distress.
Data provided by municipal authorities indicates the unprecedented nature of the events in January. The shelter Peludos Felices, which operates in collaboration with the Royal City Council for animal welfare, dealt with a total of 172 abandonment cases throughout 2023, whereas this month alone witnessed 47 cases.
The head of the animal shelter, José León, assured that these cases will be reported to Seprona, the body responsible for monitoring animal preservation, under the Civil Guard. “We are cognizant of these situations and will collaborate with Seprona to prepare a comprehensive report, in conjunction with the Los Realejos City Council, highlighting instances where animals are brought from other locales and left in our municipality. There are also cases where individuals report to a local police force in another area, which lacks its own animal collection service, and are directed to contact Los Realejos because we handle these cases here. This places an unsustainable burden on our shelter and the Los Realejos City Council, necessitating a broader regional approach to address this issue.”
In response to this crisis, the City Council and Peludos Felices will launch a special adoption drive through the shelter, commencing on March 1, with the theme “Embrace a Furry Friend.” As part of this initiative, the initial vaccination, microchip, and registration will be provided free of charge, and the campaign will be promoted through the municipal radio station Radio Realejos.
Councilor Josué Bacallado explained the municipal campaign for the control, sterilization, and release of cats, stating that “animal welfare always takes precedence.” To date, 23 colonies have been identified in the municipality, with a total of 156 animals sterilized in the month of January alone.
