Dogs Punished on Tenerife is a cautious expression indicating that little leeway is given to our pets.
With this article, I can guarantee that half of the UK will criticise me because our beloved furry friends are at the heart of an article filled with prohibitive regulations. In Tenerife, just like in Flanders and the Netherlands, there are numerous laws, decrees, and ordinances aimed at enhancing the lives of our pets and protecting them. However, there are also rules and regulations imposed on pets and their owners when it comes to hygiene and public health.
I, too, am an animal lover, even though I no longer have pets. I grew up in an environment where animals played a central role. At our home, we had what could be described as a small zoo, and a regional animal shelter of the Blue Cross was based there. I was practically born into a half-animal world.
Anarchists
The article Dogs Punished on Tenerife came about due to the many speculations on social media, where truths and official guidelines regarding animales domésticos or domestic pets are often twisted or misrepresented. Spreading falsehoods and blatant lies as rumours is cowardly, especially to an uninformed reader who may not realise these are merely rumours and cannot verify their truthfulness.
In addition, some pet owners exhibit a negative attitude, placing themselves above the law. They refuse to follow the established rules, and some even shamelessly and without consequences encourage others to disregard legal requirements. These are anarchists!
Sensitive Locations
In a previously published article, Pets on the Bus, we discussed the restrictions and recommendations that pets face before they can travel by taxi or bus in Tenerife—if the driver even allows it. Recently, this regulation was revised and detailed in the article Dogs on Tram and Bus. However, even before arriving on the island, pets must comply with the rules set by the airlines. These are not insurmountable if one follows the guidelines, though some low-cost carriers do not transport pets at all.
Every responsible dog owner knows that plastic bags must be used when the dog needs to relieve itself during an outing. It is also common knowledge that dogs must be kept on a leash in public places. But can you bring your mascota into a shopping centre? Or into public spaces like a town hall or police station? Are dogs allowed on beaches, even if leashed? Many of these questions remain unanswered for most of us. And what if you want to take your beloved pet to a restaurant?
Fines
To find answers to these questions, one must delve into laws and decrees in the BOE (Spain’s Official Gazette) and the BOC (the Canary Islands’ Official Gazette). Additionally, municipal ordinances on the protection and management of pets need to be considered—a nearly impossible task given Tenerife has 31 municipalities.
Fortunately, most municipalities refer to the legal code and provide fewer details at the local level.
An example? Dog droppings. Every municipality penalises those who fail to clean up after their pets, with fines ranging from €30 to €300. Enforcement varies between municipalities, but one thing is clear: everyone wants to eliminate the unsanitary conditions caused by dog waste, and violations are inevitably punished.
Dog Beaches
Pets are generally banned from beaches for hygiene reasons. Authorities believe four-legged friends do not belong on a beach. However, Tenerife has a few exceptions—three beaches in 2024 allow pets.
These include El Callao/Las Bajas in Arona, the beach in Puertito de Güímar, and El Confital in Granadilla de Abona. According to Bueno, these locations “fall short of meeting the current high demand and are all concentrated in the south of the island.”
In a previous edition, I reported that Playa La Enramada in Costa Adeje was a sandy beach where pets were welcome. However, an attentive reader informed us that prohibition signs have since been posted there, making it no longer accessible to dogs. A shame, as there are already so few such locations. Furthermore, we’ve been notified that the dog-friendly beach at Playa Las Teresitas in San Andrés will only open at the turn of the year.
More
Another contentious issue where dogs on Tenerife face restrictions is their access to public spaces. Simply put: wherever food is sold (whether groceries or meals), your pet is not welcome. This means, for instance, that your dog may be denied entry to a shopping centre if it houses a greengrocer, butcher, or fishmonger.
This seamlessly leads to restaurant visits. Dogs are not allowed inside due to hygiene concerns related to food preparation and distribution. Pets can be banned from any location within any entity for various reasons. These restrictions are also legally stipulated, but the owner or manager must indicate them with a notice or sticker explicitly showing the prohibition.
Fortunately, guide dogs for the visually impaired are exempt from these inconsistencies, as they are granted unrestricted access to all places described in the legislation, provided they adhere to specific hygienic requirements.
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Dogs Punished on Tenerife ©
More TRIVIA can be read [HERE].
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