More pets than ever abandoned

A total of 1'400 pets were abandoned in the Balearics in the months of July and August, according to a report by the animal welfare centre, Asociación El Refugio. A spokesman said that the figure for the entire country was 58'030.
The association compiled the figures from animal refuges all over Spain, and the spokesman said all the shelters consulted confirmed that the number of abandoned pets was much higher than the previous summer. This problem could be solved, he said, by sterilisation campaigns and better identification for pets.
The Balearics was by no means the region with the highest number of abandoned pets. That distinction goes to Catalonia, where more than 12'000 pets were abandoned. Next was Andalucia with 11'420, followed by Madrid with 7'670, Valencia with 4'900, Castilla-Leon with 3'080, Castilla-La Mancha with 3'160, Murcia with 2'840; Galicia with 2'640, the Canary Islands with 2'200 and Asturias with 1'440. After the Balearics come the Basque Country, where 1'320 pets were abandoned, Extremadura (1'120), Navarre (1'080), Cantabria (720), Aragon (640) and La Rioja (400). The report also says that most of the shelters barely managed to handle 42 percent of the calls to pick up abandoned animals because their shelters are full. Nacho Paunero, the chairman of the association, said that there is a solution to the problem, but it must be carried out by regional governments and town councils, with sterilisation and awareness campaigns, adoption and educating people in the responsibilities involved in having a pet. In Palma, the Centro Canino Internacional is still facing difficulties in opening its new premises. The old shelter in Camino de Jesus has to be closed down to make way for the Palma city council's new green belt. However, the United Left party has now taken up the case and will ask the council to allow the Centre to open its new premises in Es Pil.lari. The party will also ask the council to “condemn the intimidation the association has been subject to” by people who are opposed to the refuge opening at its new premises. The party claims the council “has opted not to grant the necessary licences to reform the premises” because of pressure from neighbours, but has failed to offer an alternative.