Coinciding with the arrival of summer, the number of animals being abandoned in Andalucia is increasing, with many cats and dogs, often with collars, being left on the streets to fend for themselves.
It is not only the abandonment of animals that is on the increase, cases of abuse are also rising and animal rights groups are calling for tougher laws. Many cases, they claim, are either filed or end with derisory fines.
Incidents such as cats burned by acid, dogs with legs amputated and, in one case, a woman throwing her cat and dog off the balcony, have been reported.
Animal shelters are struggling to cope with the increase in abandonments.