Life4dogs
Magazine
There are places in the world where you can really feel the beauty of nature and the warmth of the people. Tenerife is undoubtedly one of them. But behind the scenes of this popular holiday island, many animal lovers struggle with a different reality every day: animal shelters in Tenerife are overcrowded, underfunded, and in urgent need of support. Anyone who has ever seen the sad eyes of abandoned dogs or frightened cats in an animal shelter immediately understands the enormous responsibility that is borne here. For many vacationers, this sight is a shock that changes their view of the island – and at the same time motivates them to do something themselves.
The number of abandoned animals in Tenerife has been high for years. The main reasons are ill-considered purchases, a lack of neutering, and the hunting season, after which many podencos and other hunting dogs are no longer needed and end up in shelters. In addition, there are many stray cats on the island that reproduce uncontrollably. Without interventions such as neutering campaigns, their numbers would explode and diseases such as cat flu or FIV would spread further.
The associations are trying to cope with this flood, but their capacities are limited. They often work with partner organizations in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland to find homes for animals and finance medical care. Without the work of these organizations, the suffering of the animals would be immeasurably greater. Animal shelters are expecting another increase in surrenders and found animals, especially during the 2025 hunting season ¹.
Government support is scarce or insufficient. Survival therefore depends almost exclusively on donations ². Many animal shelters organize flea markets and charity events or hope for private sponsors. Sponsorships for individual animals are also an important source of income, as they give the associations a small degree of planning security.
Some associations, such as the well-known animal shelter Arche Noah ³, impressively demonstrate how much voluntary commitment and perseverance can achieve over decades. They have succeeded in establishing a solid infrastructure and gaining national recognition. But even these model projects rely on additional help to cope with everyday life with dogs, cats, and small animals. Many smaller animal shelters do not even have their own veterinary practice and have to pay dearly for every treatment. The costs for vaccinations, operations, or emergencies are constantly rising — and often the money is only collected when there is an acute case.
Everyday life is characterized by a lack of space, high veterinary costs, and constant fluctuation. There are days when several abandoned animals are left at the gates of the shelters within a few hours — sometimes in cardboard boxes, sometimes tied up, sometimes simply thrown over the fence. Adoptions ⁴ help to reduce the pressure, but not every animal finds a home quickly.
Older dogs or cats in shelters often wait months for an animal lover to choose them. Sick or disabled animals also have a hard time being rehomed, even though they are often particularly affectionate and grateful. In addition to caring for the animals, this also means psychological stress for the helpers – because many of the stories are tragic. Some animals arrive at the shelter emaciated, injured, or traumatized. Rebuilding them requires patience, love for animals, and often expensive therapies.
At first glance, the new animal welfare law in Spain ⁵ sounds like progress, but in practice, many animal rights activists see it as a weak compromise. Although stricter rules for the registration and keeping of pets have been adopted, key problems remain unresolved. Hunting dogs in particular are still not adequately protected, and controls and sanctions are difficult to enforce in reality.
For animal shelters in Tenerife, this means that the law brings little real relief. The number of abandoned animals will not decrease because the causes — lack of education, lack of neutering, and a weak legal culture — remain. This makes education, awareness-raising, and international networks that promote sustainable change all the more important. This is the only way to prevent thousands of dogs and cats from ending up in shelters every year.
There are many ways to improve the situation. In addition to financial donations, donations in kind such as food, blankets, or medication are a great help. Many associations also welcome active support, whether it be walking dogs, transporting animals, or helping with administration. Tourists can also get involved by accompanying an animal as a flight sponsor or helping out for a few hours on site.
Another important component is raising awareness in your own community: by informing friends and acquaintances about the reality of animal shelters in Tenerife, you can help encourage more people to take responsibility. It is particularly important to raise awareness of the mission of LIFE4DOGS ⁶ and other organizations so that animal welfare efforts in Tenerife can continue to be effective. If you would like to help in the long term, you can become a permanent supporting member — small amounts add up and give the associations stability.
Sources & Links:
¹ Hunting season 2025
² Survival therefore depends almost exclusively on donations
³ The history of the association Arche Noah Tenerife
⁴ Adoption ads for dogs and cats
⁵ New animal welfare law in Spain – BOE-A-2023-7936
⁶ Mission of LIFE4DOGS
