City Council tenders animal rescue and protection service to expand its coverage

The contract will meet the needs arising from the increase in the animal population, especially dogs and cats, guaranteeing their welfare and zero culling, and focusing on awareness campaigns against abandonment.

The Estepona City Council is working on the necessary procedures for the implementation of a rescue service and animal protection in order to strengthen the coverage that is already being offered. In this regard, it has opened the tender for the contract for the collection, accommodation and maintenance services (including veterinary treatments) of abandoned and/or stray animals in the municipality.

Currently, the Estepona City Council is responsible for the removal and maintenance of animals that are in a state of abandonment due to the inaction of their owners, and maintains an agreement with a kennel for the care of these animals that are recovered from the street and from homes where they were in a situation of neglect or abuse. This agreement, which has been developed in compliance with the current regulations that guarantee zero slaughter, makes it possible to provide shelter for these animals.

With the service tender, the aim is to provide greater coverage to the increase in the animal population, especially dogs and cats, guaranteeing their welfare and zero culling, and promoting awareness campaigns against abandonment and responsible adoptions.

According to the documentation governing the tender, the contract is aimed at contracting the service of collection, accommodation, maintenance and veterinary care of abandoned, homeless or stray animals in the municipality of Estepona, as well as the management of cat populations, always with the relevant prior permits in the latter case. The successful bidder must comply with the provisions of Law 7/2023 of 28 March, on the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals, and Law 11/2003 of 24 November, on the Protection of Andalusian Animals, as the Town Council has been doing. The actions will be carried out in the geographical area of the municipality of Estepona of public ownership, such as roads and public spaces, parks and municipal landscaped areas, lots and open spaces of municipal ownership and, in general, in any location of municipal ownership.

The service will be provided every day of the year, and the contractor will be available to the City Council for emergency attention 24 hours a day, including holidays.

The base annual tender budget (including VAT) for the contract is 209,791.79 euros. The duration will be for 2 years, extendable annually up to a maximum of 5 years.

The City Council of Estepona has for years maintained actions aimed at achieving zero animal abandonment and slaughter in the municipality, which have been intensified following the entry into force in 2023 of Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals. In addition, the Consistory has been collaborating annually with entities in charge of animal care in the city and reminds of the importance of adopting pets that are in shelters or protective.