The Seprona patrol of the Civil Guard of Fuerteventura closed last week a second facility of an animal shelter on the neighboring island, which had already faced another inspection on August 7. Following that intervention, which ended with the closure of the facilities and the indictment of the owner for an alleged crime of animal abuse, the agents made a new visit last week to another "shelter" of the same association, located in the town of Puerto Lajas, in Puerto del Rosario.
The agents were accompanied by a veterinarian from the City Council of Puerto del Rosario and, as reported this Monday in a statement, verified that the facilities were not suitable, "verifying that the hygienic-sanitary conditions were not adequate", so they decided to proceed with the removal of the animals.
In total, there were twelve adult dogs and three puppies in the facilities, which have already been transferred to Lanzarote, where a shelter based in Arrecife called Haguayan has taken charge of them. Thus, for the second time, animals from the association intervened in Fuerteventura arrive on this island.
After the first operation of the Civil Guard, it was Sara who took charge of some of the dogs. Specifically, seven puppies with their mother and a three-and-a-half-month-old bardino arrived at her shelter, which is already in a foster home. "A platform was created in the Canary Islands to help", they explained to La Voz from Sara, who had to make an effort to receive these animals, given that her shelter is once again overflowing one summer more.
Indictment for a crime of animal abuse
Meanwhile, the Civil Guard has announced that it will proceed with the indictment of the owner of the facilities in Fuerteventura, with initials G.C. and foreign nationality, for an alleged crime of animal abuse, "for possessing in her property several domestic animals in conditions that seriously impair their health".
This body recalls that this crime can carry penalties ranging from 3 months to 1 year in prison, as well as a special disqualification of 1 to 3 years for the exercise of a profession, trade or business related to animals.
In parallel, it will be verified, through the ZOOCAN database (Canary Animal Identification Registry), "the identifications of the seized animals through the mandatory microchips, to verify if their legitimate owners have filed the corresponding complaints for their theft or disappearance".
In the event that the owners have not reported their disappearance, they will be contacted to pick them up or, otherwise, they will be reported under the Canary Islands Autonomous Law on Animal Protection.