Yaharia Thovar does not have any offspring, although, upon closer inspection, she has actually cared for thousands, tens of thousands… she will never be able to precisely quantify the figure. These are the dogs she has taken in at the various shelters she has established in Tenerife over her lifetime (in Arona, in the Los Angeles area – El Sauzal – and, for 22 years, in the upper part of this municipality in the northern part of the island, the renowned centre of Ravelo). Going further still, Yaharia’s life with her current partner, Juan, has nearly always revolved around her immense passion, her boundless love for dogs, which, from an outsider’s viewpoint, may seem almost obsessive. This devotion has led her to part with her assets (she has always received invaluable support from her mother), but it leaves her utterly speechless when observing how she interacts with her current 337 children — the 337 dogs she looks after in facilities now owned by the Cabildo, yet which she initiated over two decades ago and with whom she interacts, caressing and kissing each one by name, without a single mistake. Moreover, she finds homes for about 200 dogs annually.
Nevertheless, her children are now at risk, facing a peril that the protection organisation (Adepac Canarias) confronts due primarily to financial imbalances, as well as fundamental issues, such as the well of the facility being overflowing for years. The circumstances appear dire, prompting her to utilise Canarias Ahora to issue an SOS to both the authorities and individuals, as she has lost nearly all of her assets (she only retains her home) in her mission to rescue and rehabilitate abandoned, injured, or even dogs exploited for underground and illicit fighting. She has reached a critical juncture. The lack of funds has led to her nine employees (including a veterinarian, who earns an average of 1,300 euros) not receiving their salaries for two months, compounded by an impending shortage of food for the 337 dogs.
The financial disparity is easily comprehensible, since although it receives an annual grant of 250,000 euros from the Cabildo of Tenerife since the last term (previously it was significantly less: 94,000), the yearly expenditure totals approximately 500,000 euros. Despite Yaharia’s relentless efforts to raise funds through individuals and other organisations or institutions (between 100,000 and 150,000), it never suffices to reach that total, resulting in persistent debts accumulated year after year.
Deep down, and aside from very specific problems that have plagued the operations of this critical shelter for years, such as the flooding of the well where all waste and dog faeces are disposed of, Yaharia (born in 1966), her partner, the staff, and those who have consistently supported her fear that the burdens are designed to push them to surrender, in favour of pursuing a completely public management model, similar to what occurs at the other major shelter on the island (the one in Tierra Blanca, “where the Cabildo invests a substantial amount of money: millions”) or with well-known protectors under a different “protocol” regarding the dogs.
As she emphasises, it may have been a disadvantage for her, in the eyes of certain Cabildo officials, that Adepac does not sacrifice any animals, which ultimately is not particularly sustainable given the number of dogs abandoned daily in Tenerife, the Canary Islands, and elsewhere. On average, their organisation finds homes for about 200 designated dogs each year to families that adopt them, whom the shelter owner actively monitors to ensure they are in good care.
Commendation for sheltering approximately 80 dogs from the notorious fights in Güímar and Arona
Her approach and dedication are well acknowledged and were particularly lauded when Yaharia and her shelter took in about 80 dogs from the infamous large-scale trial against illegal dog fighting organised in Arona and Güímar by an international network, which occurred in 2017 and continued for some time afterwards. This trial involved 23 defendants and ultimately reached a consensus in 2022 with 19 of them, with 21 individuals being sentenced in October 2023. This case even implicated a local police officer, two veterinarians, and several dog breeders, presenting a stark contrast to the compassion shown by Yaharia and her team.
Indeed, as with every dog they rescue, Adepac ensures they are sterilised and that they are divided into specific areas if they…
In situations where veterinary or other types of care are required, animals are treated in temporary rooms while efforts are made to establish the mandatory clinic, a venture currently deemed impossible due to the prevailing circumstances. They are segregated to prevent conflicts and are, naturally, fed and tended to until they are either adopted or succumb to natural causes. According to Yahaira, lethal injection is never a method used. During the visit to the Canary Islands, her emotions were palpable as she struggled to hold back tears, reflecting her profound frustration and despair regarding the critical state of her project.
The initiative commenced in Arona, when he rented a dilapidated greenhouse in Buzanada to rescue the numerous dogs wandering along the roads. However, two years later, in 1990, he was confronted with a troubling situation involving certain dogs. Despite still being quite young (having committed to this passion at the expense of his studies), he persistently pursued this vocation, relocating to the northern region. In Los Angeles, a location also within El Sauzal, he leased an ageing residence, which was expanding, albeit in a significantly smaller area compared to the current venue, and situated adjacent to a predominately residential area with considerable purchasing power.
In 2002, he moved to a property provided by the City Council, located in the elevated area of Ravelo, a neighbourhood situated approximately 950 metres from the sea. The cold climate, exacerbated by changes in the weather, has certainly posed challenges. Previously, he encountered difficulties with some residents in Los Angeles due to the disturbance caused by having numerous dogs at the shelter, although moments of tranquillity can be found in Ravelo where silence prevails, provided that a state of calm is maintained and during intervals absent of visitors or initial chaotic periods, as experienced by this publication. Another considerable setback is the almost non-existent mobile reception, despite numerous attempts with various service providers (a functioning repeater would cost around 15,000 euros, a sum clearly beyond their means).
Change in Allocated Funding for 2023
While Adepac worries about both its operational model and financial viability, the dire situation surrounding the inadequate well was acknowledged by the previous island government, comprising PSOE and Cs (with Sí Podemos providing external support). Nearly one million euros was earmarked to permanently address the issue. However, as Canarias Ahora observed, the temporary measures enacted thus far, including the utilization of an attached cistern and various pipes, have failed to avert an escalating health crisis. Several homes situated below and on the corner of the farm bore the brunt of the extensive blaze that consumed a large portion of Tenerife in August 2023. This wildfire necessitated the relocation of all dogs and posed an additional monumental challenge for Yahaira and her team.
Regrettably, this allocation of nearly one million euros was left unutilised by the incoming Cabildo government (CC-PP) following the elections of May 2023. By 2024, the intended use of these funds was redirected (without prior consultation with them) to address other urgent needs, citing the ongoing water crisis as justification, despite assurances given to the group. Moreover, Yahaira’s numerous discussions with key officials, including the vice president Lope Afonso (PP) and others responsible for Animal Welfare, have yielded little progress (with meetings taking place as recently as January and last May). The shelter’s owner has grown increasingly weary and feels powerless in her dealings with the Cabildo; however, she remains hopeful that actions will be taken to remedy the circumstances at the shelter. The facilities, which have been gradually constructed, fenced (using robust materials to prevent the dogs from escaping by digging), expanded, and improved upon, have cost “millions.” Ultimately, the Cabildo acquired the premises for 400,000 euros, which includes just over 200,000 euros received and a commitment to an annual subsidy of 94,000 euros since 2007 — this amount rose to 250,000 euros during the previous island administration.
Despite not losing sight of that glimmer of hope and acknowledging that she is “aware of everything” (she currently pays a mortgage of 2,800 euros for the improvements made at the shelter, with an outstanding sum of 140,000 euros), her concerns run deep, and her staff are acutely aware of her distress. As a result, she is putting out this urgent plea to anyone who might be able to assist.
The Council’s Position
The Canary Islands Now reached out to the island government (CC-PP) to ascertain their perspective on the situation regarding this shelter. From the Animal Welfare department, it was stated that Adepac has recently finalised the justification for the annual nominative subsidy of 250,000 euros allocated by the Cabildo for 2023. They reported that the subsidy for 2024 is currently under review, although they emphasised that “the award for the upcoming year cannot be granted until the justification for the 2023 subsidy is completed.”
Furthermore, they indicated that the Cabildo also intends to “initiate works at the shelter amounting to approximately one million euros, which had been budgeted in 2023. However, it is important to note that these works were not put out to tender in either 2023 or 2024. In light of the water emergency, which has created heightened needs, these funds were redirected to tackle the agroclimatic crisis. In the draft budget for 2025, which was approved recently, there is an allocation of 250,000 euros for the initial phase of the work to commence next year. Additionally, funds of 60,000 euros have been allocated for ongoing maintenance at the shelter, alongside another 60,000 euros (currently in the bidding phase) intended for the treatment plant’s repairs. They explained that these figures, along with the 250,000 euros allocated as a nominative subsidy, have yet to be disbursed for 2024 since the 2023 subsidy was only justified recently, two weeks ago.
