A group of animal protection organizations, composed of AnimaNaturalis, FAADA, PACMA, and FDCats, have taken a firm decision: to fight in court against what they consider to be an unjustified massacre of community cats in the Canary Islands. The Government of the Canary Islands has ordered the confinement and subsequent euthanasia of thousands of these animals in animal protection centers, veterinary clinics, and zoological facilities. According to official documents, the goal is to eradicate the cats to protect the islands' native fauna, under the argument that they are an "invasive species."
However, the organizations insist that this measure is not only illegal but also represents a clear attack on animal rights. "We are facing a case of mass extermination disguised as a false act of environmental protection,” says Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. "Community cats are not invaders; they are animals to whom we have denied the love and safety of a home due to abandonment… it is time not to deny them justice as well.”
Manipulation and Cover-Up of Official Information
Despite strong public protests and opposition from protection entities, the Government of the Canary Islands continues to publicly deny the existence of an extermination plan. However, the capture and euthanasia of the first community cat on La Graciosa, a feline named Chinijo, has sparked outrage. The administration was forced to acknowledge the animal's death, contradicting its initial statements that no extermination measures were underway.
Anna Estarán, a lawyer for FAADA, explains that "the Euthanasia Order issued by the Director-General of Natural Spaces and Biodiversity is based on a biased interpretation of native fauna protection laws. They manipulate regulations to justify an eradication that violates animal rights and the welfare of feline colonies.”
The organizations have decided to challenge this euthanasia order in court, as they believe it violates the Animal Rights Law 7/2023, which recognizes community cats as companion animals and prohibits their euthanasia except in exceptional and duly justified situations. The legal strategy aims to halt this measure before it spreads to other islands and causes the death of thousands of cats.
"We cannot allow the Government of the Canary Islands to act in this manner. The community must raise its voice to protect these cats, which have been a part of so many people’s lives and feline colonies on the islands,” stresses Gascón. The organizations involved in the case have requested financial support from civil society to cover legal costs, which amount to more than 5,300 euros.
A Precedent We Cannot Allow
This situation not only affects the Canary Islands but also sets a dangerous precedent for the management of feline colonies across Spain. The euthanasia approach could extend to other autonomous communities if it is not stopped in time. Community cats are not a threat to biodiversity if managed ethically, as successful sterilization and return programs in various regions have demonstrated.
The sudden disappearances of cats on several islands and complaints from colony caregivers are clear signs that something is going very wrong with the current management of feline colonies in the Canary Islands. The capture and euthanasia of these animals must be stopped before it becomes a common practice.
The organizations are calling on society to mobilize and support their cause, both financially and politically. With this legal challenge, they aim to stop this measure before it is too late and to demonstrate that the law must protect the rights of all animals, including community cats.
"At AnimaNaturalis, we will not rest until we stop this measure and ensure the protection of all community cats in the Canary Islands and throughout Spain,” concludes Gascón. To support this campaign, we ask all citizens to join the cause and contribute with their donations to cover the legal costs, which amount to several thousand euros. Every contribution can make a difference in the lives of thousands of cats.
If you want to help stop the mass euthanasia of community cats in the Canary Islands, we invite you to make a donation. With your help, we can stop this unjust measure and protect the lives of thousands of animals. Every contribution counts.
