To the open debate on the impact of feral cats on nature, Ecologistas en Acción has also added that of dogs, which it considers “no less urgent”. “It must be remembered that dogs with owners can also be a significant threat to biodiversity, especially if they are allowed to run loose in natural spaces,” the association warns.
For this reason, it has demanded that more public parks be enabled “where they can interact and move freely, outdoor spaces that are responsibly attended to by municipal administrations”, and that serve as “safe and pleasant places for both dogs and the people who care for them”.
“Contrary to what is desirable, the increase in the number of dogs does not correspond to a greater number of controlled free spaces, which are at the service of citizens to reduce pressure on nature and wildlife. And this is already a pending issue for each city council,” questions Ecologistas en Acción, which denounces that “there is also no known planning of actions aimed at channeling this serious situation”.
In fact, it also warns of the state of one of those few spaces, the dog park located in the Arrecife theme park, with “lack of irrigation”, dirt and even fallen trees.
In this regard, it states that the water supply has been interrupted “by a lighting contract”, so the animals cannot drink water from the drinking fountains and the trees lack the irrigation they need. “As a result, even this week the second tree was lost, which fell due to the action of the strong winds and the persistent dryness,” it states.
It also adds that “cleaning and disinfection is carried out very sporadically, barely once every three months, when in other dog parks it is done more frequently”.
“There is no cleaning or irrigation contract in force, it was eliminated. The authorities omitted it and for now it is still under technical study to evaluate its inclusion. And this is something absolutely essential, which this park should have had since its opening,” it criticizes.
"Organization" to "enjoy a peaceful and healthy coexistence"
In its statement, Ecologistas en Acción begins by highlighting how the population in Lanzarote and La Graciosa increases every year, and with it the number of pets. “That is why we need to improve the level of social organization to continue enjoying the most peaceful and healthy coexistence possible between people, the physical environment and the other sentient beings that inhabit the two islands,” it defends.
In the case of feral cats, it states that it is “a very complex problem” and that “its solution will be equally complex”. In fact, it generates controversy between certain animal and environmental associations, which disagree on the measures that should be adopted with stray cats.
For this reason, it focuses on that of dogs, which it insists is “no less urgent”. “Although stray dogs are no longer seen, kennels and shelters are still over-saturated. Spain is a country that stands out in the European average in the abandonment of pets and the Canary Islands has one of the highest rates nationally. That says something about the citizens,” it questions.
Regarding those who do have a home, it insists on the need to enable controlled spaces for them. “In the nesting season, dogs running freely causes birds to fly out of their nests and the laying to be lost, as the eggs or chicks are exposed to the mercy of their predators, being also very sensitive to temperature variations, which can lead to the loss of eggs or chicks,” it points out.
“It must be taken into account that there are fewer and fewer birds and more and more dogs. For example, the limicolous species, which live, feed and reproduce in coastal areas, are disappearing at an accelerated rate because there are almost no virgin coasts left without human presence. A constant traffic of people and dogs does not allow them to feed quietly, nor to take proper care of their laying,” the association warns.
