Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s summer wildfires have not only devoured forests and farmland but also exposed a brutal truth: the country has no effective plan to protect animals in disaster zones.
Despite the Animal Welfare Law introduced in 2023, veterinarians, campaigners and citizens warn that in practice, animals are left defenceless — and people trying to save them are paying with their lives.
In Madrid’s Tres Cantos, more than 100 animals perished when flames engulfed a riding school. A man died while attempting to rescue horses trapped inside. According to FAPAM’s Matilde Cubillo, both deaths and losses could have been prevented with proper organisation. “This is not the first time someone has died trying to save animals,” she stressed. Blocked roads meant horses could not be evacuated.
A scene of devastation
Elsewhere, rescue groups found carnage. Volunteers from the Salvando Peludos foundation worked alongside vets to treat up to 100 stricken animals, many of which had to be euthanised. “We arrived to find dead sheep scattered across the land, others severely burned and terrified,” said founder Fernando Sánchez.
In Salamanca, farmer Herminio Mangas faced catastrophe across his 700-hectare estate. Denied access by Guardia Civil checkpoints, he later discovered charred calves, dead goats, and cattle with severe burns among his 5,000 animals. “It was pure devastation,” he said.
Narrow escape in Toledo
Sometimes survival has come down to luck. At the Las Nieves animal shelter near Toledo, 300 animals were surrounded by flames in July. Staff called emergency services repeatedly, but no help arrived. Hours later, the fire passed through, leaving only one dog dead from suffocation. Shelter director Maricarmen Quejido was blunt: “We survived, but not thanks to the authorities. There was no evacuation plan, no help, only chance.”
Why prevention matters
Activists argue that prevention is as vital as emergency response. In previous years, grazing sheep kept scrubland around shelters low. This year, heavy rains fuelled overgrown vegetation, providing wildfire fuel. Cubillo and other campaigners are now compiling a nationwide map of shelters, farms, and hunting estates to help firefighters plan evacuations.
The missing protocol
Veterinary associations insist Spain needs a real emergency protocol — not just a legal framework. According to Manuel Lázaro of the Madrid Veterinary Association, it should establish:
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Clear contact channels with fire and rescue teams.
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Immediate access to resources without bureaucratic hurdles.
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Designated safe areas for different animals depending on the type of disaster.
In Tres Cantos, essential equipment had to be sourced through private distributors and funded directly by vets — a situation professionals say is unsustainable.
Laws without action
Spain’s regional legislation remains patchy. Valencia obliges councils to designate animal shelters in emergencies, yet few have acted. Animal rights lawyer Amparo Requena points out that when her Modepran shelter was hit by a tornado, chaos reigned. “Storms and floods are normal here. Many animals could have been saved,” she said.
In Extremadura, Law 10/2019 also recognises animal protection in disasters but leaves operations undefined. Without practical guidelines, campaigners say the law is “a promise on paper.”
Canary Islands: a rare success story
The only Spanish region to act decisively has been the Canary Islands. Following devastating wildfires in 2017, 2019 and 2021, the islands created a dedicated protocol. When La Palma’s volcano erupted in 2021, more than 300 pets and a similar number of livestock were safely evacuated. Coordination was supported by the Zoocan Emergencias app, which logged animal conditions, treatments and owner details in real time.
A test Spain keeps failing
Every summer, fires tear through Spain’s countryside, killing livestock, wildlife, and pets. Campaigners argue the lack of a national emergency framework for animals is not just an animal rights issue, but also a matter of human safety. As this summer has shown, when official help is absent, desperate owners risk — and sometimes lose — their lives.
Without urgent reform, the Animal Welfare Law risks becoming little more than empty words. The Canary Islands offer a working example. The question is whether the rest of Spain is willing to follow before the next fire season brings yet more needless deaths.
Source: ELPAÍS