Almeria finds solution for small town strays

A DOG is left to its fate every three minutes in Spain.

More than 150,000 dogs are abandoned each year and the unwanted honour of leaving most on the streets goes to Andalucia.

Animal protection associations do their utmost to remedy their plight and in Almeria the Almeria Diputacion provincial government is also attempting to alleviate the situation.

Diputacion president Gabriel Amat recently signed a contract with the Montaña del Sol Animal Service to collect strays in towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants where councils cannot meet the expense.

An emergency phone line will connect town halls to Montaña del Sol 24 hours a day and the company undertakes to pick up strays within 48 hours.

The Diputacion will provide €60,000 to cover staff costs, social security payments, vets’ fees and feed, plus the upkeep of the animals.

“With this contract, the Diputacion is solving a problem that small municipalities cannot deal with,” Amat said.