Anyone who has spent time around Tenerife will know there are a lot of animal rescue groups quietly doing the hard work. Looking after abandoned dogs, managing cat colonies, running shelters… most of it done with limited funds and a lot of dedication.
This week the Cabildo de Tenerife approved a new €700,000 subsidy programme aimed at helping these organisations continue their work.
The decision was approved during Wednesday’s Council of Government meeting, and the funding is intended to cover day-to-day running costs for animal protection groups across the island.
The grants will be available to animal shelters, rescue centres and organisations managing feline colonies, helping them cover the regular expenses that come with caring for abandoned animals.
One important detail is that the funding will be non-competitive, meaning organisations that meet the requirements can access the support without having to compete against each other for a limited pool of grants.
Payments will also be made in advance, which should help shelters manage their ongoing costs more easily.
The subsidy period will cover expenses generated from 1 June 2025 through to 31 December 2026, with the final amount each organisation receives calculated based on their approved operating budget.
The move also comes in response to Spain’s Animal Welfare Law (Law 7/2023), which introduced new responsibilities for local governments when it comes to protecting animals.
In theory, municipalities are responsible for collecting, caring for and managing abandoned animals. In reality, many town halls simply don’t have the staff, infrastructure or funding to handle the problem properly.
That’s where the animal protection organisations step in.
Across Tenerife, these groups play a vital role in rescuing, housing and caring for abandoned animals, often filling the gap where municipal services fall short.
According to the Cabildo, the aim of the funding programme is to support those organisations while also helping coordinate animal welfare actions across different municipalities, ensuring the same standards are applied across the island.
To qualify for the grants, organisations must meet several conditions. They need to be legally registered associations, comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Law, and be fully up to date with their obligations to the Spanish tax authorities, the Canary Islands tax administration, the Cabildo de Tenerife and Social Security.
Applications must be submitted using the official form available through the Cabildo de Tenerife’s electronic office, and must be signed by the legal representative of the organisation.
Anyone looking for more information can also contact the citizen information service on 901 501 901 or 922 23 95 00, available daily from 7:00 to 23:00.
For the many rescue groups across the island that spend their days caring for abandoned animals, this funding could make a significant difference.