Individual Investigated in Gran Canaria for Keeping 29 Dogs in Deplorable Conditions

The Civil Guard acted on a citizen's tip, finding the animals chained and in an unsanitary environment in La Aldea de San Nicolás.

Image of a dog's paw on dirty ground, symbolizing animal cruelty.
IA

Image of a dog's paw on dirty ground, symbolizing animal cruelty.

The Civil Guard has launched an investigation into an individual in Gran Canaria for alleged animal cruelty, after discovering 29 dogs living in unsanitary and neglected conditions on a farm in La Aldea de San Nicolás.

The Benemérita's intervention followed a citizen's alert regarding the abandoned state of several animals. Upon arriving at the farm, officers confirmed the absence of perimeter fencing and other security barriers, allowing unrestricted access to the premises.
Inside the property, numerous makeshift kennels were found, constructed from precarious materials such as pallets, wood, and discarded furniture. These structures offered neither adequate stability nor insulation, and contained dangerous elements like nails, splintered wood, and various waste, posing a direct risk of injury to the animals.
Furthermore, the structures lacked minimal protection against adverse weather conditions, including wind, rain, or the intense local sun. All dogs were chained with very short leashes, severely restricting their mobility and natural behavior. The surrounding area was covered in several days' accumulation of excrement, forcing the animals to live amidst their own waste and fostering a massive presence of insects, preventing a clean and healthy environment.
The animals' water and food containers showed a high amount of soil sediment and organic matter. This sediment had a shiny, gel-like layer, characteristic of bacterial biofilms produced by decomposing matter, rendering the water unsanitary and unfit for consumption.
The Civil Guard reported that all the dogs had visible wounds, with flies on them, and no evidence of veterinary care. Their neglected appearance suggested prolonged inattention, and one dog was even observed eating its own feces. To safeguard the animals' lives, all 29 dogs, including six newborn puppies, were seized in collaboration with the La Aldea de San Nicolás City Council and placed in municipal facilities, awaiting judicial authority.
Finally, the Civil Guard stated that criminal proceedings were initiated, as there were indications of an alleged criminal offense of animal cruelty due to the omission of due care.