A new €5.4 million animal protection centre is planned for northern Tenerife, providing hundreds of spaces for abandoned dogs and cats while easing pressure on the island’s overcrowded shelters.
The Blue Earth centre will be built on land between La Laguna and Tacoronte. Construction is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2028, although the project must first complete environmental consultation and public review procedures.
The 27,378-square-metre complex will include veterinary consulting rooms, operating theatres, recovery wards and quarantine facilities. There will also be rehabilitation areas, exercise spaces and a building for training and public awareness activities.
Plans include 602 general places for dogs, additional kennels for animals with behavioural difficulties, and 78 hospital and quarantine spaces. The centre will also provide accommodation for 200 cats and facilities for a trap, neuter and return programme for feral cat colonies.
Its total operating capacity is expected to reach approximately 680 dogs and 400 cats across its different services. Running the facility is forecast to cost around €1.1 million a year.
The project aims to address growing demand for animal care across Tenerife. Official figures show that the island has more than 250,000 registered dogs and 53,000 cats, with an estimated 3,700 animals abandoned each year.
Tenerife currently has 16 shelters, but facilities in the metropolitan area are operating well beyond their intended capacity. Dog accommodation has reportedly reached more than 291% occupancy, while cat facilities are at 125%.
The centre will join the existing island-run facility in Fasnia as part of a wider animal protection network. Authorities hope it will improve veterinary care, support adoptions and provide more suitable accommodation for abandoned animals.
