Tenerife has a growing challenge when it comes to abandoned pets, but there are now plans to tackle it with better facilities and a more joined-up approach across the island.
A new study commissioned by the Cabildo estimates that 2,813 dogs and 704 cats were abandoned on Tenerife during 2024. That’s more than nine dogs and almost two cats every day.
Put another way, a dog is being abandoned roughly every three hours.
The figures are certainly worrying, but the study is also helping to put some proper numbers around a problem that has been difficult to measure until now.
A problem the island can no longer ignore
The study was commissioned as part of plans to create an Island Network of Animal Protection Centres, with the aim of improving facilities and the way abandoned animals are cared for across Tenerife.
Of the 2,813 abandoned dogs recorded in 2024, 1,563 were found in the north of the island, representing 55.6% of the total.
For cats, the figure is even higher, with 450 of the 704 abandoned cats coming from the north.
The metropolitan area alone accounts for more than 40% of abandoned dogs and almost half of the abandoned cats.
Tenerife has a lot of pets
According to the Canine Identification Registry, Tenerife currently has around 237,298 dogs and 72,268 cats.
That’s more than 309,000 registered pets.
The island’s child population is around 145,000, meaning there are more than twice as many dogs and cats as children.
With that many pets living on the island, having the right facilities to look after animals that are abandoned becomes increasingly important.
Shelters need more space
The current figures show just how stretched some of Tenerife’s shelters have become.
Metropolitan shelters are operating at around 291% of capacity for dogs and 125% for cats.
The study estimates a net shortage of 714 spaces for dogs and 171 for cats in the metropolitan area.
That’s why the proposed Tierra Azul refuge, planned between La Laguna and Tacoronte, could make a significant difference.
A new refuge with room to grow
The proposed Tierra Azul facility would cover around 27,377 square metres and have space for up to 600 dogs and 400 cats.
The idea is to create a facility capable of dealing with the scale of the problem while providing better conditions for animals waiting to be adopted.
Valentín González, the Cabildo’s insular councillor for Animal Welfare, says the project is necessary because municipalities are under increasing pressure to deal with abandoned animals and don’t currently have enough infrastructure.
It’s a fairly simple equation. More animals need more space.
But prevention is just as important
Building new shelters is one part of the answer.
Yahaira Thovar, president of the Animal Defence and Protection Association of the Canary Islands, Adepac, points out that there are also animals being abandoned that never make it into the official figures.
She stresses the importance of spaying and neutering campaigns, particularly for cats, as well as greater awareness of responsible pet ownership.
Shelters also regularly find animals simply left outside their doors, adding even more pressure to facilities that are already full.
So while better accommodation is needed, preventing animals from being abandoned in the first place would obviously be even better.
There is a way forward
The good thing about the latest study is that Tenerife now has a clearer picture of the scale of the problem.
That gives the Cabildo and local authorities something to work with.
More shelter capacity, better coordination between municipalities, sterilisation campaigns and encouraging responsible pet ownership could all make a difference.
There is no quick fix, particularly when thousands of animals are involved. But recognising the scale of the problem and investing in the infrastructure to deal with it is a sensible place to start.
For the animals already waiting in shelters, more space could mean better conditions and more opportunities to find a new home.
And hopefully, with the right measures in place, fewer animals will end up there in the first place.