You’ll never believe this. That there are more dogs in Tenerife than children under 14 is in itself a remarkable fact.
That there are twice as many pets in Tenerife as children between 0 and 14 is rather an extraordinary fact, but that there are three times as many vets as paediatricians surprises us the most.
Dogs have historically always played an important role in Canarian culture. They are often considered loyal companions and are valued for their loyalty and protective instincts. The mild climate with pleasant temperatures throughout the year makes it attractive on a subtropical island to have a pet that can fully enjoy the outdoors.
141,000 owners
You’ll never believe this. In Tenerife, there is one registered dog for every child between the ages of zero and 14, a trend that occurs in all 31 municipalities on the island and has increased after the pandemic. In the Canary Islands, there are 592,322 microchipped dogs, including 101,043 hunting dogs and 27,833 dogs descended from potentially dangerous breeds. In Tenerife, there are 234,338, including 45,535 hunting dogs and 11,986 dogs descended from a potentially dangerous breed. All the dogs in Tenerife have a combined 141,082 owners.
One dog for every two inhabitants
With such numbers of pets, it is also not surprising that Canarias has more vets (588) than paediatricians (160). According to the Veterinary College, there are 296,656 registered dogs in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and it is not known how many dogs roam around without registration. According to the Veterinary College, there are more unregistered dogs in areas with fewer residents. In the municipalities of Vilaflor, Arico, Arafo, Fasnia, El Rosario, El Tanque and Tegueste, there is one dog for every two inhabitants, not including hunting dogs.
Legal framework
This phenomenon is also reflected in a legal framework. In April 2023, the Spanish Parliament agreed to introduce a bill in which animals would no longer be considered objects but recognised as sentient living beings. Nevertheless, Spain remains a top country when it comes to the number of abandoned pets.
Although the population is increasing, legislation on dogs in the Canary Islands is still in its infancy. It is awaiting the adoption of the Animal Welfare Act and the Biodiversity Act, which will take into account the status of hunting dogs.
Step-motherly approach
The Santa Cruz municipal government considers a pet to be “a living creature that is a member of the family”. Therefore, every pet must be registered and identified with a chip. Moreover, this microchip is a fundamental tool to encourage responsible ownership, ensure strict health control and monitor and, if necessary, control possible epidemics among the dog and cat population.
If animal welfare is held in high regard, it is high time something changed in locations where our pets are still banned or allowed under strict conditions.
More trivia [HERE]
Pixabay © Photography
You’ll never believe this ©
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