Not all towns are the same. Some stand out for their monuments. Others, for their landscapes. Or their cuisine. And others, simply, for their people.
Trigueros del Valle is a town of just over 300 inhabitants, tucked away in Castile and León. But its inhabitants have made it unique. Thanks to them, Trigueros del Valle has become a small yet great town and has been thrust into the international spotlight.
In fact, in Trigueros del Valle all the town’s dogs and cats have been declared “non-human residents”, with the aim of valuing the animals that live alongside people and combating abandonment and animal abuse. (Yes, we were also surprised and very happy when we heard the news.)
A declaration (worthy of applause, praise, and imitation by every town in Spain and, hopefully, the world) that demonstrates extraordinary sensitivity on the part of its inhabitants and has therefore earned them two distinctions held by no other town.
The first is the “I Capital Animal Award,” granted by the namesake, plural platform for art, culture, and thought. This platform manages projects focused on raising awareness of animal rights and includes the participation of prominent artists such as Forges, El Roto, Niño de Elche, and Ouka Leele, among others.
For the award ceremony, a caravan representing Capital Animal, made up of renowned artists and personalities, traveled to the location, including Ouka Leele (National Photography Award winner), Chus Gutiérrez (filmmaker and multiple Goya Award nominee), Lluvia Rojo (actress and activist, best known for her role in “Cuéntame cómo pasó”), actress Nathalie Seseña, and poet Ana Pérez Cañamares. The celebration was a genuine party, with vegan food and, obviously, four-legged friends as the undisputed protagonists.
The second is the recognition of a pioneering and unique initiative worldwide. An inspiring and moving milestone that sets a precedent for respecting animal rights and that elevates their status as individuals to that of citizens.
At Aristopet, we celebrate this declaration and the good work of the town council and the residents of Trigueros del Valle, because decisions like these show that there is growing sensitivity to animal cruelty and that progress is being made in legislation to protect them.
Now all that remains is for other towns and cities to follow suit and understand that the time has come to stand up for those beings who show us their unconditional love every day, keep us company, lift our spirits and exemplify the idea of loyalty, as they are always there to look us straight in the eye whenever needed, with that deep understanding that people sometimes fail to show.
So, dear aristopeters, we hope you will be encouraged to visit Trigueros del Valle, in the province of Valladolid, and discover for yourselves how an animal capital differs from one that is not. Although your pets are undoubtedly the ones who can best tell you about it. So this could be an excellent opportunity to take a trip together, don't you think?
That said, if you have enjoyed this initiative, we encourage you to share this article with your friends to give greater visibility to the animal capital and its inspiring and hopeful declaration.