The Tías Town Council's stray dog collection service has removed 79 animals from the streets of the municipality. Their owners had abandoned them or they were lost and through this service, provided by a company contracted for this purpose, both the collection of dogs is guaranteed, either by complaint from residents or when detected in frequent surveillance tours, as well as their care until their owners appear or, failing that, a solution adjusted to current regulations is given. The Council allocates 30,000 euros annually to the contracting of this service.
Alejandro Morín, responsible for this service, explains that since they collect the stray dog they wait 20 days in case it is claimed and if not it enters an adoption process. Although the Law allows to sacrifice these animals, so far they have not had to resort to it. "We usually work with two German ladies, who through protectors of this country look for owners in Germany and Austria for these dogs". In addition to these countries, they are also adopted on the island.
The majority of the dogs removed were found in Puerto del Carmen and Tías, although incidents were also recorded in the rest of the towns in the municipality. Regarding the tasks of identification, the absence of the chip in some of the animals makes it considerably difficult to contact their owners. In cases where the animals do have it, the technicians communicate the situation of the dog to its owners and the procedure to which it will be subjected in case they do not act within the timeframes provided for in the regulations. Also, if the owner does not take responsibility, the Council has the possibility to sanction him for abandonment.
