Animal lovers living in or visiting Tenerife will be delighted to learn that there are several animal charities and refuge centres in Tenerife, offering shelter primarily to stray, abandoned or neglected dogs and cats.
We have listed a few of the better known ones below. If we have omitted any, our apologies, please let us know and we will gladly add them.
- K9
Without doubt the best known animal refuge and charity in Tenerife. Launched back in 1993, is is located between Aldea Blanca and Las Zocas, approximately 2km north of the Las Chafiras TF1 motorway exit.
The refuge is operated entirely by volunteer staff and survives purely on donations from the public and local businesses. It is registered as an official Spanish Registered Charity and is also affiliated with the RSPCA in the U.K.
Animal lovers are welcome to visit the refuge and the K9 shop. They are always looking for donations and even dog-walkers to assist in exercising their lovably furry residents. They also organise various fundraising events and dinners where you can contribute whilst socialising with other like-minded animal lovers.
contact details:
Tel: (+34) 667 638468
Website: http://www.k9tenerife.com/
Location map: https://goo.gl/maps/LvdWPCoWxue78gxd8
2. Live Arico PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Supporters)
This is another well-established animal charity that organises various fundraising events throughout the island. Founded in 2000, they originally had a pet refuge, but this subsequently closed. Today, Live Arico PAWS instead runs two charity shops, one in Los Cristianos, the other in the San Eugenio area of Playa de Las Americas.
contact details:
Email: info@livearico.com
Location map: https://goo.gl/maps/71uP4Za9Qt9vkM2g9
3. MADAT
A German-run establishment, the name is short for Manos Amigas de Los Animales de Tenerife. It is currently a very small operation with capacity for some 40 dogs and up to 30 cats. However, they specialise in providing shelter and/or rehousing to animals that some would consider ‘special needs’, e.g:
- Injured animals requiring special care.
- Traumatized dogs and cats, which have been mistreated and need careful, patient and loving handling in order to be able to re-socialise and build up trust.
- Animals on medication
- Orphaned puppies/kittens, relying on people for feeding and learning how to behave around other people and animals.
- Dogs who need to learn or re-learn the “everyday doggie” things (How to walk on and off the lead, toilet training, how to behave around people and other animals.)
At the sanctuary, you can either adopt a pet and give it a loving home, or you can help an animal travel to Germany or other European country where there will be someone waiting to adopt it. Animals are also available for sponsorship for a small annual fee.
contact details:
Telephone:
- Regina: (+34) 669 668512
- Dominique: (+34) 687 372923
Email: info@madattenerife.com
Location Map: https://goo.gl/maps/kstXj2cWuAKWudvJA
4. El Refugio Internacional para Animales
This Spanish refuge is located in the north of the island, near to La Montañeta and Puerto de la Cruz and was formed over 30 years ago.
This Refuge Shelter is dedicated to taking in stray dogs that may be hungry or injured, nursing them back to health and placing them in a loving home.
Like most refuges, they are very dependent upon donations of money or blankets, dog food etc.
contact details:
Telephone: (+34) 922 372431; (+34) 676 445547
Web: refugiodeanimales.org
