What is happening in the vicinity of the Postigo 49 neighborhood has ceased to be a simple complaint and has become a desperate cry for help by those who manage the shelter. The people in charge of the Animal and Plant Protection Society of Ceuta have been warning for some time now that the situation is unsustainable, but it seems their words are falling on deaf ears as the sun begins to beat down fiercely in the autonomous city.
The area surrounding the facility is, to put it bluntly, a powder keg that only needs a spark to explode. The walls that should protect the dozens of dogs and cats living there are practically buried under a dry and uncontrolled vegetation which has grown unchecked, creating a scenario of constant danger that keeps volunteers awake at night every time temperatures rise.
A powder keg of weeds at the gates of the shelter
It's quite hard to believe that, given the risks involved, the outer perimeter is in such a deplorable state. It's not just tall weeds; we're talking about a explosive cocktail of invasive trees and waste that piles up in the adjacent areas, which depend on ACEMSA and which today look more like an improvised landfill than anything else.
Debris, garbage bags, and all sorts of debris are mixed with the weeds, forming a flammable barrier surrounding the center. The association hasn't remained idle and officially took action on May 3rd with the administrative file 2026/28445They requested that the matter be addressed before summer arrived in full force, but the response they received left them stunned.
Long-term plans for today's problems
The official response has come from OBIMASA, and frankly, it's completely incomprehensible. Although they acknowledge the problem exists and needs to be resolved, they've had the bright idea of ​​including these works in the 2027 Fire Prevention PlanOr, in other words, they expect the animals and their caregivers to sit idly by until the end of this year to see if the relevant procedures are approved.
For the animal shelter, this timeline makes absolutely no sense. It's unrealistic to expect that a risk that exists today will be resolved in a few months, when the worst of the heat has already passed. Furthermore, it's outrageous that the administration itself admits that a [problem already existed]. previous file on this subjectThis makes it clear that they knew perfectly well what was happening and preferred to look the other way while the weeds continued to grow unchecked.
Direct impact on animal health
But fire isn't the only frightening thing in this corner of Ceuta; the lack of hygiene and neglect of maintenance are taking their toll on those least to blame. The amount of filth and vegetation accumulated even on the rooftops has caused a plague of flies and insects which is a real ordeal for the dogs, many of whom have open wounds on their ears due to these constant bites.
It's a textbook case of unsanitary conditions that adds to the stress animals already suffer in a shelter environment, similar to those... Challenges and concerns of puppies in SpainThe organization categorically denies that any clearing work has been carried out recently, as some have tried to insinuate from behind closed doors, and asserts that they have photographic evidence that proves the abandonment absolute in which the facilities are located at this precise moment.
Broken promises and a serious warning
In recent days, there seemed to be some verbal commitment to start cleaning this week, but when it came down to it, not a single person showed up. The frustration is so great that the animal shelter has already warned that it will not remain silent any longer, as they believe that the Prevention is a legal obligation that the administration is blatantly disregarding the rules, putting lives in danger in a completely unnecessary way.
The administration has all the documentation prepared for anyone who wants to see it, from political groups to the media, and they threaten to expose more dirty laundry about the center's internal state if action isn't taken immediately. It's not pleasant for anyone to have to resort to these extremes, but when you see that The deadlines are slipping away And as the danger increases with each passing day, there is no other option but to denounce what is happening far and wide.
We must hope that someone with a modicum of sense in the Department of the Environment takes charge and orders an intervention that cannot wait for future schedules or annual plans that arrive late. The animals that live in Postigo deserve to be in a safe and clean place, far from the constant threat of fire which, if not remedied soon, could end in a tragedy that we will all regret when it is no longer possible to solve.