Tenerife Council Designs New 600-Animal Center 'Tierra Azul'
Tenerife's Island Council has begun designing "Tierra Azul," a new 600-animal protection center in Presas del Campo, to alleviate overcrowding at existing shelters and enhance animal welfare in line with new legislation.
The Tenerife Island Council has started designing a new animal protection center called "Tierra Azul" (Blue Earth). It will be located on public land at Presas del Campo, between La Laguna and Tacoronte. This project aims to ease the pressure on the overcrowded Valle Colino shelter and marks a significant step forward for animal welfare on the island, in line with the recent Animal Welfare Law.
The initiative, led by Valentín González (Councilor for Primary Sector and Animal Welfare) and Alicia Leirachá (Island Director of Strategic Projects), plans for a facility that can house 400 dogs and, for the first time, 200 cats – a total of 600 animals. The Presas del Campo site, which spans 133,000 square meters and was originally bought for farming, will use about 27,000 square meters for the new center. Its location, over 500 meters from urban areas, meets current regulations and will minimize noise and visual impact.
"Tierra Azul" is designed to be more than a traditional "dog pound." It aims to be part of an island-wide network of animal centers, similar to "Tierra Blanca" in Fasnia. This approach tackles the problem of animal abandonment, which sees about 3,000 dogs left without homes each year in Tenerife, and encourages responsible adoption. The center will have reception areas, quarantine facilities, an operating room, and a special section for cats, including "Catch, Sterilize, and Release" (CSR) programs. There will also be a classroom for public education, mirroring the volunteer and education programs at "Tierra Blanca."
The project is urgent because the current Valle Colino shelter is struggling. Its agreement with the councils of Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Tegueste, and El Rosario runs out in July 2027. Valle Colino was built for 80 dogs but currently holds 250. It also has 50 cats, despite only having space for 40. "Tierra Azul" will help meet this demand, providing a solution for the capital area and the north of the island.
Presas del Campo was chosen because it's easy to get to, owned by the Cabildo (Island Council), and is rural land protected for farming, which is suitable for an animal center under the local plan. While the project could be fast-tracked by declaring it of "island interest," the Cabildo wants agreement from local councils. Tacoronte has already backed it, and La Laguna has agreed, though with some minor points. The Island Council for Animal Welfare, Fecam, Tegueste, and El Rosario also support the plan. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, however, has urged the Cabildo to declare it of "island interest," after their own land suggestions were ruled out for technical reasons.
The next step is for the Cabildo's full council to declare the project of "island interest," followed by a simpler environmental review. Funding for "Tierra Azul" is expected in the 2027 budget. The Cabildo is also committed to keeping residents of Valle de Guerra informed and in dialogue, following "positive and constructive" meetings already held with their representatives.