DecidimVLC is a citizen consultation for the city and towns of Valencia. The initiative, launched by Valencia City Council, allows people to participate and decide how to invest 7 million euros in the city. Through the Citizen Investment Consultation, Valencians will decide directly on the 2018 budget. So far, so normal.
However, there is something that has caught our attention and seems extremely inspiring to us. Inspiring enough to share it with all of you. The initiative (which currently has more support than any other) is a center for rescuing stray cats. The cat sanctuary was not only in first place a few days ago, but has already advanced to the second phase and will be one of the finalist projects. Thanks to the massive support of local residents.
The proposal addresses a real and worrying need. For years, homeless cats have been settling in vacant lots and abandoned or undeveloped land in the capital of the Turia. This, moreover, happens in most cities. However, the situation had reached the point where 500 cat colonies had already been counted. Each colony has between five and twenty feline members. This means that in the city of Valencia there are at least 2,500 homeless cats. Until now, these cats have been cared for by charitable people. Neighbors who care for and feed them of their own accord, spending their money and time to provide these cats with a minimum quality of life. Apparently, Valencia City Council has never paid them much attention.
However, that is not what prompted residents to become concerned and start calling the city council. The trigger was that all those cats are being forced to leave their street homes because the vacant lots where they lived… are beginning to be developed.
Those calls to the city council may be related to the fact that the promoter of the cat shelter is the Councilor for Animal Protection: Glòria Tello.
Apparently, Tello is already searching for a location for this cat sanctuary. It is assumed that the sanctuary will be located on the outskirts of Valencia. Various sources point to farmhouses belonging to the municipality (some of them are in the agricultural area), which will need to be properly restored and equipped so they can become a dignified shelter for homeless cats (the 800,000 euros allocated in the budget would be used for this). The staff in charge of the shelter would, according to the plan, be municipal employees. However, the need to hire additional staff has not been ruled out.
The Councilor for Animal Protection, unconcerned by criticism from residents and Valencian media outlets claiming that this is not a genuine priority for the city, says that the success of her initiative demonstrates Valencians' sensitivity to issues related to the animal world.
At present, there is a strong possibility that the cat rescue center will go from being a dream to becoming a reality. If it moves forward, an effort will be made to support the volunteers mentioned earlier. They will be offered a space to treat sick cats and provide specialized care, as well as to process adoptions and sterilizations. Eventually, donations of cat food and other provisions, if any, will also be managed there.
Finally, it should be noted that the service for taking in abandoned animals is not the same as the rescue center for stray cats. The former manages the center for abandoned companion animals. The latter, for its part, will be a support center for cats from the colonies and their generous caregivers.
At ARISTOPET, we hope the proposal moves forward. It really is necessary for the ARISTOCATS living on the streets to be properly cared for and looked after, and to have a better life. We will keep you informed!