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Our Proposal: Simple Solution for the Benalmádena Dog Shelter Crisis
Executive Summary
“Benalmádena dogs shouldn’t have a death clock.”
The Benalmádena dog shelter (Fidelio) has been serving the community for over 35 years. It is now being forced to close by July 31, 2026, with no concrete replacement plans from City Hall.
Intake of new homeless dogs has already been banned, even though the shelter still has capacity and other shelters are full. Without a solution, unadopted dogs face transfer to kill shelters, abandonment in the streets, or being left in the forest.
This is not only an animal welfare crisis but also a political and reputational crisis for Benalmádena.
Community Resistance
· The Parque de la Amistad development by the Asociación de Promoción e Intercambio Hispano-Chino already faces tremendous opposition from the community.
· Anger is intensifying because citizens see that the project is displacing the town’s only dog shelter.
· Residents are furious that dogs like Maya, Tyson, Omar, Byron may be sentenced to death clocks while new dogs are denied entry altogether.
· For over 35 years, Fidelio has been a trusted institution. Shutting it down without a replacement is viewed as immoral and reckless.
· This controversy is spreading on social media and threatens to damage both City Hall’s credibility and the developers’ reputation. Media outlets are beginning to cover the story and are likely to continue as the campaign unfolds.
· The online petition https://www.change.org/ayudafidelio, launched just a few days ago, reflects voters’ anger and their demand for change. Since the campaign began on August 23, it has already gathered enough verified signatures to have a real impact on the next election.
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Fidelio Must Remain Open Until Transition
· Fidelio must remain in its current location until a new shelter is fully built and operational.
· The shelter occupies only a tiny fraction of the development land.
· The developers can begin construction in other areas of the site without dismantling the shelter.
· Closing Fidelio prematurely would create an immediate animal crisis and an unnecessary political scandal.
Proposed Solution
1. Immediate Action
· Keep the Fidelio shelter open with intake reinstated immediately.
· This prevents dogs from being abandoned or sent to kill shelters and restores public trust.
2. New Shelter Development
“This crisis can be solved at zero taxpayer cost by August 1, 2026.”
· City Hall provides a flat, build-ready parcel of land on or near a bus route.
· The land is guaranteed for 20 years as a dog shelter site.
· After 20 years, the land can legally be converted into a self storage locker facility — a profitable, low-maintenance business model proven in North America.
Win for City Hall: They solve the crisis at almost zero taxpayer cost, while showing leadership and responsibility.
3. Shelter Financing
“Developers who profit from our land must also protect the lives they displace.”
· The preferred builder should be the Asociación de Promoción e Intercambio Hispano-Chino, since they are displacing the current shelter with their project.
o This demonstrates goodwill.
o It offsets community resentment.
o It positions the developers as caring contributors, not just profiteers.
· If they refuse, the city should open the project to other investors or Non profit organizations.
Win for Developers: For a tiny fraction of their multi-million euro investment, they gain powerful community goodwill and, after 20 years, free private land for a highly profitable self storage locker facility.
4. Shelter Management
· · The shelter should ideally be operated by a nonprofit under city oversight to ensure transparency and accountability.
· Volunteers, adoption campaigns, and public involvement should remain central to its operation.
· If a nonprofit is not feasible, the city should run the shelter as originally promised.
Win for Fidelio: They can transition operations smoothly while continuing to save dogs’ lives.
Outcome
· The dogs live. No more abandonment, no transfers to kill shelters.
· The citizens win. Their demands are met, and their values respected.
· The city wins. They avoid scandal, solve a crisis, and prove they care about more than development with minimal tax payer cost.
· The developers win. They gain community trust, avoid backlash, and secure a highly lucrative future business asset.
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