The City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has imposed a fine of 5,000 euros on a man who left four dogs tied up in the sun without shelter for more than two hours, exceeding the time permitted in the Municipal Ordinance on the Protection and Ownership of Animals.
This ordinance considers such actions as a very serious violation, punishable by a fine ranging from 1,500 to 15,000 euros, as stated in a municipal announcement.
Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasizes the need to penalise and prosecute those who neglect animals, stating that “they are living beings that must be kept under the best hygiene and health conditions.” He also added that “the City Council, through the Animal Welfare Department, will continue to ensure the health and well-being of all companion animals in the municipality.”
The Councilor for Animal Welfare, Carlos Tarife, highlights that graphic evidence showed poor hygienic conditions where the dogs were kept, exposed to the sun, with one of them suffering from an ear infection, indicating a lack of veterinary care.
Additionally, Carlos Tarife pointed out that the location where the animals were kept had excrement and urine, failing to meet the necessary conditions to ensure the animals’ physical well-being.
The Municipal Ordinance on the Protection and Ownership of Animals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife states that owners or possessors of animals are obliged to maintain them in good hygienic and sanitary conditions, taking necessary actions according to their species’ needs and subjecting them to veterinary treatments.
The ordinance also prohibits animals from being tied up in a fixed place for more than two hours and requires clean, disinfected, and ventilated spaces with proper shelter to prevent suffering and meet their vital needs and well-being.
