Tenerife Animal Shelter Faces Funding Crisis Amid Bureaucratic Delays
The Tenerife Island Council is facing calls to urgently release 240,000 euros in stalled funding for the Adepac animal shelter, as bureaucratic delays threaten the facility's ability to provide essential care for over 300 animals.
Tensions are rising in Tenerife over the management of animal shelters, following a complaint from the Socialist Group (PSOE) regarding bureaucratic delays affecting the Canary Islands Association for the Defense and Protection of Animals (Adepac). The party is calling on the Island Council to use an emergency procedure to release 240,000 euros in promised funding, which has been stalled despite being approved by the council last March.
The dispute involves the Ravelo shelter, a council-owned facility currently housing over 300 animals. PSOE island secretary Tamara Raya and councilors Aarón Afonso and Javier Parrilla have expressed deep concern, warning that the funding freeze threatens the shelter’s ability to provide food and veterinary care. After 15 years of consistent support, the sudden halt in public funding has left the organization struggling to pay its nine staff members and maintain the facility.
The opposition argues that the island’s leadership is using administrative red tape to avoid fulfilling a commitment already backed by a plenary vote. The 240,000-euro figure was a compromise reached in March, down from an initial proposal of 500,000 euros. Despite Adepac submitting all required documentation months ago, the funds have yet to be released. Consequently, the PSOE has requested that the President of the Island Council, Rosa Dávila, appear at the July 31 plenary session to address the issue.
This situation highlights the risks of relying on indirect funding for animal welfare. Beyond the immediate administrative failure, the crisis at Ravelo has sparked a wider debate about the sustainability of the island’s animal protection policies and the potential threat to the welfare of animals in public care.