The Town Hall calls it an albergue, which translates as hostel or shelter, whilst the socialist opposition leader, Flor Almón called it an extermination camp for abandoned dogs.

The relevant councillor says that the Town Council is working together with animal protection associations and has provided a home for 95% of abandoned animals taken in. This Councillor for Health, Margarita Yanguas, considers that the terminology used by the opposition party to describe the installations merely demonstrates how out of touch they are with reality; i.e., the work being carried out by the animal protection associations.

“Sra. Almón must know that no installations existed in this town before; nothing to take in abandoned animals and find new homes for them,” she said, adding that no animal is put down before ten days have passed, as the opposition claimed; on the contrary, the vast majority have homes found for them.

She also claimed that no adoptive owners are charged for adopting animals in itself; it is the costs of microchipping and vaccinations etc, that are passed on, just as any new owner of a pet would be expected to pay, if they want to keep a dog.

Lastly, she thanked the volunteers for rounding up strays, free of charge, whilst in other towns this is a paid for service.

The actual accusations launched by the socialists was that the set up is a thinly disguised way of bringing in money whilst ignoring the welfare of the animals. She said that the new regulations for the installations lists charges and a terminal date for unclaimed animals – ten days. They call for the Town Council to listen to animal protection groups and extend the ‘death row’ time limit.

“The conservative municipal administration should have listened to the animal protection sector in Motril, who have been looking after strays for a long time, without means or collaboration from the Town Hall,” said socialist leader, Flor Almón.

She went on to say, “The disproportionate hike (increase) makes adopting an animal in Motril much more expensive than anywhere else, whether it be a pet shop or a private animal shelter.”

She went on to say that if the conservatives had wanted it to be a shelter, they should have awarded the running of it to the Motril animal protection association, El Refugio, which has long worked with abandoned animals despite few means. Instead, she claims, the Town Council has given it over to a private company to run.

She concluded by pointing out that should somebody wish to adopt an animal from these new installations, it would cost 90 euros, whereas before it cost nothing. She explained that they had compared prices with Málaga, Jerez de la Frontera and Almería, all run by conservative administrations, where the same service for micropchipping, vaccinations and basic de-parisiting costs around 35 to 40 euros. Most town halls charge around four to five euros a day to animal owners who come to reclaim their lost pet, whereas Motril now charges ten euros per day.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)