Arona Council to impose fines for dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets

Arona Council is set to enforce penalties ranging from 500 to 10,000 euros for dog owners who neglect to pick up after their pets or clean up their urine. The municipality is actively working on updating the Municipal Ordinance for the Protection and Ownership of Companion Animals and Potentially Dangerous Animals to align it with the new Animal Welfare Law (Law 7/2023).

The initiative, led by the Department of Environment, Sustainability, and Public Services, addresses a major concern within the council and among various citizens and groups: the issue of dog faeces and urine and their impact on the cleanliness and quality of life in the municipality. This problem arises from the abandonment of pet waste in public spaces, particularly in playgrounds, gardens, pavements, pedestrian areas, plazas, and building entrances.

Clari Pérez, the councillor for Environment, Sustainability, and Public Services, emphasized the urgency of addressing the uncivilized behaviour of some dog owners. She stated, "We cannot continue to allow our environment to suffer such deterioration due to the uncivilized actions of some dog owners. Not to mention the serious public health problems that these behaviours can cause. It is intolerable that our children cannot play in playgrounds because they are filled with dog faeces and urine, as owners daily bring their pets there for their needs. The same situation occurs in many of our gardens, squares, pavements, and walkways."

The recently implemented Animal Welfare Law, effective since September 29th, goes beyond local regulations. Chapter II, Article 26 states, "Pet owners or individuals cohabitating with companion animals have the right to responsibly enjoy their company and the duty to protect them. They are obliged to comply with the provisions of this law and the regulations that develop it, in particular: prevent animals from depositing their faeces and urine in places regularly used by others, and, in any case, proceed to their removal or cleaning with biodegradable products."

Consequently, it is mandatory for owners to prevent their dogs from depositing faeces (and urine) in passageways. In the case of urination, they must ensure it does not occur at doors and facades. If unavoidable, owners are required to clean the urine with biodegradable products.

The section on sanctions and offences in Law 7/2023 indicates that behaviours resulting in "non-compliance with the prohibitions and obligations established in this law" are considered mild offences. Therefore, allowing dogs to deposit faeces in these areas is considered a mild offense under the Animal Welfare Law, with fines ranging from 500 to 10,000 euros.

Simultaneously, the council will launch awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of complying with individual responsibility regulations for pet owners. The goal is to enhance coexistence in the Arona community. Clari Pérez added, "We must also invest in the creation of dog parks, providing citizens with suitable spaces for their pets to fulfil specific needs such as socializing, exercising, and walking without a leash, all in good health and safety conditions."