The complaints from several residents of La Matanza de Acentejo may result in a fine for a farmer for moving his goats through the village. The affected individual, José Manuel Martín, has stated on social media that this situation could lead to him losing his goats. The farmer recalls that he has been “enduring” the situation for years, which has “complicated” over time. The farmer has received three notifications from the Council. In them, they inform him that they may confiscate his goats if they are not moved to rural land, as he has made public.
Authorised municipal sources have clearly stated that the animals will not be confiscated and pointed out that the Town Hall of La Matanza has only opened “a warning file” due to neighbour complaints caused by the effects of the animals on the road. Moreover, the opened file would only lead to a “small warning”. They explain they have been telling him for years that “he cannot have the animals there”.
José Manuel Martín the goatherd, as he is recognised after this episode, states on his social media accounts that the neighbours complain that the animals “scratch the cars”. “They have horns, not iron bars,” he asserts. In fact, to prove that the neighbours’ complaints are “lies”, he posted a video of the route he takes with the goats. The farmer understands they might complain about the smell from the goats and because they “foul the streets”, but he insists he tries “to choose a specific time to go out and not disturb anyone”.
The farmer fears they might confiscate the herd and take the goats to the slaughterhouse. “These are animals that have cost me thousands of euros,” he explains. His son is also part of the business and the cheese-making they conduct at the local market, one of the best-rated on the Island, being the latter activity their main source of income. Hence, José Martín claims losing the goats would be a “huge blow”.
The Town Hall of La Matanza also informs that they have suggested, through island subsidies and local aids, “take advantage of the land he has in a rural area to create facilities for the livestock”. Since a regulatory change was enacted in 2011, the goats cannot be located where José Manuel Martín’s currently are, on urbanisable land that, “50 years ago“, was not so. Thus, they request that he moves his 140 animals to the rural land he owns “a bit further up” from where the goat herd is currently kept.
Martín Reyes, very active on social media advocating for farming and rural activities, has become popular after the publication stating that among the complainants were the users of a holiday home located in the area where he moves with his livestock went viral.
José Manuel Martí Reyes practices transhumance from the coast to the midlands of the municipality along a real path now paved. n
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