The Cabildo has launched a public awareness campaign against animal abandonment, with eight buses carrying messages aimed at encouraging responsible pet ownership across the island.
Cabildo president Oswaldo Betancort said the campaign “kicks off in the middle of the summer season, coinciding with holiday time – months during which, historically, one-third of all annual animal abandonments occur.”
The initiative is intended to help reduce overcrowding in Lanzarote’s animal shelters and protection organisations, while reminding residents that bringing an animal into a family represents a lifelong commitment.
Animal Welfare Councillor Armando Santana said: “behind every case of abandonment there is a story, a life, and an animal that doesn’t understand why it has been left behind.”
Santana added that abandonment is a chronic problem requiring continued institutional action. “Our goal is to bring about a radical shift in mindset so that animals are no longer viewed as objects or passing fads but are recognized as members of the family.”
The vinyl decals placed on the buses feature a series of messages intended to encourage reflection on the consequences of abandoning animals. These include: “You know you’re abandoning him. He just thinks you’ve gotten lost,” “Abandonment has no return ticket,” and “Loyalty has no expiration date.”
Other slogans make direct reference to the summer holiday period, including “Love doesn’t go on holiday” and “Does abandonment really fit in your suitcase?”
The Cabildo said the use of public transport is intended to provide a constant presence for the campaign, with the buses travelling across the island’s routes each day.
The campaign will run until the end of September, with each of the eight buses carrying a different slogan.
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