Animals are of little importance in Spain. The few public institutions that exist for their protection are purely bureaucratic and although they were born with an inspection profession to ensure their welfare, most today are merely collection bureaus.
First of all, there is no free veterinary assistance for animals in need of assistance when their owners cannot afford it due to the whirlpools and turns of life. In addition, VAT on veterinarians is still the highest in Spain, as the health of animals is still considered a luxury item.
There are also no public structures dedicated to the protection of animals. Thousands of municipal veterinarians are missing, an incomprehensible issue given the municipality’s competence in collecting and protecting pets, as well as in all the health and public health tasks they carry out. I understand that small municipalities do not have them due to their cost. In these cases, it should be possible to combine the position in question or have councils provide it.
It is also necessary to create shelters or centers for the collection of animals. Spain, unfortunately, is an abandoned world power. Animals roaming the streets without knowing their owner may be crushed or cause accidents. It is essential to take them and take them to shelters where they can be protected.
The same is true for wildlife rescue centers, which are almost nonexistent in our country, despite being one of the main entry routes for illegal species trafficking in Europe. It is a customary court where, when authorities confiscate an animal, they have nowhere to leave it and are often forced to leave it in the hands of the same person who illegally owned it.
Finally, I do not want to forget about the rescue centers for native fauna, which are subordinate to regional governments. Its facilities are, for the most part, absolutely outdated, overwhelmed and lacking in infrastructure, human and material resources that would put any civilized country to shame.
But nothing happens here. Everything continues as if nothing happened. Municipalities create dozens of administrative positions to control animals, but none of them are veterinarians, and centers are closed for lack of resources rather than opening. This is the sad truth. However, it can be changed. It’s not just a matter of money, it’s a matter of desire. You know, things are love and not for good reasons.