By Molly Grace
Copyright euroweeklynews
The animal protection centre in Orihuela is once again facing serious financial strain after the association responsible for its management reported four months of unpaid invoices from the local council. The non-profit organisation Asoka, which oversees the Centro de Protección de Animales de Orihuela, says its nine employees have not received their wages since June, leaving them without pay for three consecutive months. In addition, the payment for April remains outstanding, meaning that the only month covered in the past five has been May.
The situation has forced staff to make difficult decisions. With around 150 animals currently under their care, they have chosen to prioritise paying veterinarians and covering essential supplies such as food and cleaning materials, rather than taking their own salaries. Volunteers and residents sympathetic to the centre’s plight have stepped in to provide donations of animal feed and cleaning products, helping to alleviate some of the immediate pressures.
The problem comes despite the award of a new management contract earlier this year. In May, the council approved a three-year deal worth €778,392, around €260,000 annually, for the collection, maintenance and management of abandoned, lost and confiscated animals within the municipality. The contract, which also covers the care of feral cat colonies, education on responsible ownership and the upkeep of the facilities, was only signed in August, three months after it was awarded. This gap left the centre operating without a formal contract from April until the end of the summer, a situation that had already occurred in 2021 when the previous contract expired. Despite higher funding compared to past agreements, the continuity of the service has once again been put at risk.
Municipal sources have responded by stressing that payments are made in line with contractual terms and have pledged that the outstanding amounts will be settled “shortly”. They emphasised that it is the managing entity itself that is responsible for administering the funds once received.
Asoka has previously highlighted the crucial role the shelter plays, dealing with hundreds of animals every year. Its facilities, located in Lo Arques de San Bartolomé, are authorised to house dogs, cats, horses, birds and small ruminants, and include quarantine areas, maternity spaces, a surgery, and storage for medical and cleaning materials. Local officials have insisted that the aim of the contract is to guarantee high standards of animal welfare. However, with repeated payment delays and staff now months behind on salaries, the stability of the service remains in question.
