In a debate cited by Councilor Juan Camilo Tabares, the Council of Armenia addressed two issues that he considers crucial for the welfare of animals in the city: the creation of an animal welfare center and the consolidation of a veterinary polyclinic hospital. Although both proposals were recorded within the Municipal Development Plan, the councilor expressed concern about the apparent lack of commitment of the local administration.
“Today the solution to reduce animal abuse in Armenia is to create that well -being center and increase sterilizations,” said Tabares, who regretted the absence of government, health and infrastructure secretaries, entities directly involved in these processes. “One wonders how much matters to the Municipal Administration the well -being of cats and dogs in street condition, because those responsible did not even come,” he said.
From civil society, the leader of the Ecohuellas Foundation, Diana Rodríguez, recognized the space generated by the councilor and valued the work they have been advancing with Mayor James Padilla García. “We have met with him for two months and we see. In addition, he revealed that this Friday, April 25, they will have a new meeting with the local president and his cabinet, in which they expect to know concrete advances, including the number of scheduled sterilizations and the possible construction of the center on the site where the zoonosis center currently works.
Mayor James Padilla confirmed that his administration works in that regard. “We are advancing conversations with animalist organizations and our secretariats. The idea is to definitively adapt the current zoonosis center and transform it into a true animal welfare center,” he announced. As explained, a significant investment is being projected to achieve a space worthy of attention, including the expansion of the Sterilizations program with defined goals for December this year.
While animal defending organizations are expectant and with a propositive attitude, from the Council the call persists for greater coherence between the executive’s commitments and the active presence of the responsible officials in public debates.
