Twenty Dogs Rescued in Tenerife as Animal Shelter Faces Funding Crisis
Canary Islands authorities rescued twenty neglected dogs from an illegal owner, highlighting systemic failures as the animal welfare organization ADEPAC faces a financial crisis due to delayed government funding.
A joint operation between the Canary Islands Police and the Association for the Defense and Protection of Animals (ADEPAC) on June 26 resulted in the rescue of twenty dogs living in poor conditions. This case has once again highlighted the weaknesses in the islands' animal protection system. According to ADEPAC, this was not an isolated event but the result of surveillance work they began in 2022. Evidence gathered by the organization was crucial in allowing authorities to act against an individual who, despite being legally banned from owning animals, was keeping them in a state of neglect. ADEPAC has now taken on the responsibility of housing, feeding, and providing urgent veterinary care for these dogs.
This situation reveals a major contradiction: while ADEPAC performs essential rescue work that is legally the responsibility of the government, the organization is struggling to stay afloat. The shelter currently cares for over 300 animals on land owned by the Cabildo of Tenerife, but they report that administrative delays are putting their operations at risk. Although the Cabildo approved emergency funding last May to help the shelter survive, the money has yet to be transferred.
ADEPAC states that they have met all the administrative requirements requested by the Cabildo, yet the funds remain blocked. This delay comes at a time when the shelter’s workload is growing, forcing them to turn to the public for help to cover the daily costs of animal care. The case underscores a significant gap between animal welfare laws and the government's ability to provide the resources needed by the groups that form the backbone of the archipelago's protection network.