Tenerife Residents Protest Proposed "Macro-Kennel" Over Transparency Concerns
Residents of Valle de Guerra are protesting the Cabildo’s "Tierra Azul" project, citing concerns over the proposed facility's massive scale and a lack of transparency regarding its impact on their community.
Tenerife’s regional government is facing backlash over its "Tierra Azul" project, a proposed animal shelter in Valle de Guerra. Local residents are protesting the plan, citing a lack of transparency and poor communication from the Cabildo (Island Council) regarding the project’s development.
The controversy centers on the sheer size of the facility. The design covers 27,000 square meters of a 133,000-square-meter plot and is intended to house over 1,000 animals—roughly 680 dogs and 400 cats. Residents have labeled it a "macro-kennel," fearing it is too large for a rural area. With homes located as close as 100 to 190 meters away, neighbors are concerned about noise, waste management, and increased traffic, arguing that the administration has failed to properly assess or discuss these impacts.
The unrest in Valle de Guerra also stems from a feeling that the area is being unfairly burdened. Residents point out that the neighborhood has already been selected for several other high-impact facilities, including a wastewater pumping station and a waste storage site. They argue that this concentration of public services is unbalanced, a concern they formally raised with the La Laguna City Council in May.
Those opposing the project emphasize that they support animal welfare; their issue is with how the project is being handled. They argue that public participation should happen during the planning stages—by considering alternative locations and mitigation measures—rather than simply notifying the public after decisions have already been made. Frustrated by the Cabildo’s failure to provide promised technical details, residents have begun organizing demonstrations and petitions to halt the project until they receive more transparency.
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between building necessary public infrastructure and protecting the quality of life in local communities. For the Cabildo to move forward with its Island Animal Protection Network, it will need to do more than just prove the project is technically sound; it must also earn the trust and support of the people in La Laguna.