Councillor urges an end to cat and dog sales in Torrevieja stores

ZOOLOGICAL and Health Councillor for Torrevieja, Carmen Morate, wants to ban the sale of dogs and cats in stores.

Morate, from the Los Verdes party, intends to update the bylaws and include the prohibition of sale of animals, especially dogs and cats in the city’s shops. 

A prominent animal activist before becoming a councillor two months ago, Morates said the demand for animals is amply covered by adoption programmes developed by municipal pounds and humane societies across the province and country. She added that such a ban is already in force in many European cities. The motion expressed the will of the ordinance but did not specify how to legally enforce the measure. 

President of SAT, one of the longest-established animal charities in the area, Dave Moore, said he would welcome such a move. He said concerns arise when dogs are sold in shops as many are from Eastern European countries and do not have the same health checks. This can lead to outbreaks of Parvo disease. 

“People fall in love with these balls of fluff they see in a shop window, but you can’t always get a full health history and we end up with many of them,” he remarked, adding: “I would love to see a ban on selling animals. There are so many looking for homes in our kennels and many of the other charities’ kennels, that it seems ridiculous that people would buy an alleged pedigree when they can rescue one.” 

Dave also said SAT had a full adoption procedure and all dogs have the correct vaccinations and health checks. 

Morate’s motion also wants the bylaw to include banning the use of animals in circuses.

The plans come after it was announced that by the end of June, around 40 cats had been killed in municipal kennels.