Protecting pets

‘ANIMALS should not be abandoned, they are part of your family, be responsible’, is the slogan of a summer campaign by Elche city hall and the animal welfare associations Huellas Salvadas and Protectora Baix Vinalopó.

This seasonal campaign is necessary because ‘the number of animals abandoned always increases as a result of the holidays’, explained councillor for animal welfare Mariola Galiana.

Spain has one of the worst records for this despicable practice, with 138,407 dogs and cats abandoned in 2018, according to the latest study by the Affinity foundation.

Although the trend has been declining in the last decade, the Spanish royal canine society warned that cases increased by 25% since the lockdown relaxation began.

“Looking after an animal involves accepting a commitment and demands taking responsibility for it for its whole life,” said Sra Galiana.

“Likewise, pet owners are rewarded by the benefits of living with one in the form of personal wellbeing.”

She encouraged anyone who would like to get a pet to adopt one from local animal welfare associations, such as Huellas Salvadas and Baix Vinalopó, who were represented by Ascensión Mortes and Margarita Ruiz respectively.

She thanked them and other such organisations in the municipality, assuring that city hall will continue to support them so they can carry on their work in the future.

To contact either association, see http://huellassalvadas.com or www.face book.com/huellassalvadas; and http://protectorabaix.org or www.facebook.com/protec torabaix