The Arona City Council is working on one of the issues that generates the greatest concern in the City Council itself and in numerous citizens and groups: that of dog excrement and urine and its impact on the cleanliness and quality of life of the municipality, due to abandonment of these excrements in public spaces, especially in playgrounds, gardens, sidewalks, squares and facades.
The Councilor for the Environment, Clari Pérez, explains that “we cannot continue allowing, due to the uncivil attitude of some dog-owning citizens, our environment to continue to suffer so much deterioration, not to mention the serious public health problems that these behaviors can cause. carry us It is intolerable that our children, when they go to playgrounds, cannot play because they are full of dog excrement and urine, because their owners, every day, take them there to relieve themselves, as happens in many of our gardens, squares, sidewalks or building facades.”
The Animal Welfare Law, effective September 29, goes further. Chapter II, article 26establishes the following: “The owners or people who live with pets have the right to responsibly enjoy their company and the duty to protect them, as well as the obligation to comply with the provisions of this law and the regulations that develop it. , and in particular: prevent animals from depositing their excrement and urine in places where other people usually pass, such as facades, doors or entrances to establishments, proceeding in all cases to the removal or cleaning of those with biodegradable products.
Consequently, it is clear that it is mandatory for owners to prevent their dogs from depositing excrement (and also urine) in transit areas. In the case of urination, they should avoid doing so on doors and facades. If they cannot avoid it, they have to remove the urine with biodegradable products. The section on sanctions and infractions of Law 7/2023 indicates that those behaviors that, by omission or action, lead to “non-compliance with the prohibitions and obligations established in this law” are considered minor. Therefore, the fact that dogs deposit their excrement in transit areas is considered a minor infraction according to the Animal Welfare Law, and the fine ranges between 500 and 10,000 euros.
