The City Council hires a new animal rescue and protection service to expand its coverage

It will attend to the needs derived 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 has awarded the implementation of an animal rescue and protection service with the aim of reinforcing the coverage that is already being offered in the city. Specifically, the new contract provides for collection services, accommodation and maintenance (including veterinary treatment) of abandoned and / or stray animals in the municipality.

With the awarding of the new service, the aim is to provide greater coverage to the service that was already being provided by the City Council through an agreement with a kennel for the care of these animals that are recovered from the street and from homes in which they were abandoned or mistreated. And this, in view of the increase in animal population, especially dogs and cats, ensuring their welfare and zero slaughter, and focusing on awareness campaigns against abandonment and promoting responsible adoptions.

The contract is for the collection service, 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 permissions 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. 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 care 24 hours a day, including holidays.

The contract has been awarded to the company Total Animal Services Paraíso Tas, S.L, for a budget of 253,848.06 euros (VAT included). The duration of the service will be for 2 years, extendable annually up to a maximum of 5 years.

The company has presented as an improvement to the tender the implementation of a computer program with access from the Health Service, for the management and control in real time of the services provided as well as the movements of animals in the center.

The Estepona City Council has for years maintained actions aimed at achieving the abandonment and zero slaughter of animals in the municipality, which have intensified following the entry into force in 2023 of Law 7/2023, of March 28, 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.