Marbella council has started works to remove six high-voltage pylons in the Nueva Andalucia district and bury nearly two kilometres of electrical cabling safely underground. The project targets lines for Marbella Paraiso and Cosol Nueva Andalucia, right in the heart of this residential zone and next to homes. Residents will benefit from improved safety once the structures and overhead wires go.

Council actions hope to clear these installations and return space to local people for everyday use. Investment reaches around €2 million, paid for by a private urban development now underway in the area.

Safety gains and neighbourhood space recovery

The council has called the district a priority area backed up over recent council terms. Similar tower removals have already finished in Calle Castilla and around Calle Salduba. Cable burial work continues at the moment in Calle Rio Real.

Older developments from past decades often ignored key requirements such as communications networks, sanitation systems, steady electricity supply and smooth urban fit for high-voltage lines. Current efforts are now looking at fixing these shortfalls and preparing the town for coming growth.

More areas targeted in coming phases

The council also plans similar works across zones such as Bello Horizonte, Las Medranas, Nueva Andalucia and Rio Real. These steps could eventually clear close to 50 high-voltage pylon towers across the whole city in the medium to long term.

Close ties with electricity provider Endesa have supported a specific plan for the removal and burial of medium voltage lines. One major element involves a new substation in the northern section of the San Pedro Alcantara industrial estate. Local business groups have long called for this facility to support future housing and commercial projects.

Impulse for modernised infrastructure across Marbella

The council has said that expansion in the district should also upgrade the town and make up for past infrastructure shortfalls. The approach looks past just new homes alone and is meant to raise daily living standards for people already there through better facilities overall.

According to new data published by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, Spain has confirmed that more than 15 million domestic animals are currently living in households across the country. The figures form part of the first official national statistics on animal protection and provide the most detailed picture yet of pet ownership trends in Spain.

The data show that there are approximately 7.56 million dogs and 5.62 million cats registered nationwide. Together, they account for around 87% of all domestic animals. The remaining proportion includes rabbits, birds, reptiles and other small species, which collectively total just under two million animals.

The ministry report indicates that Spain’s pet population has increased by around 14% since 2021. It also highlights significant regional differences in distribution, with Andalucía recording the highest number of animals, followed by Cataluña, Madrid and the Valencian Community.

High pet ownership contrasts with abandonment figures

Alongside the growth in pet ownership, Spain continues to face a high level of animal abandonment. According to estimates from animal welfare organisations and the Fundación Affinity, around 292,000 dogs and cats were taken into shelters or collected by rescue services in 2024. This equates to roughly 800 animals per day, or around 33 every hour.

The figures are widely used as an indicator of abandonment and stray intake across the country. While not every animal collected has been deliberately abandoned, the data are considered one of the most consistent measures of pressure on shelters and rescue organisations.

Reports suggest that the number has remained broadly stable over recent years, but at a level that charities continue to describe as high. Seasonal peaks are also observed during the summer months, when travel and housing changes can increase the likelihood of animals being left behind or surrendered.

Spain compared with other EU countries on animal welfare

Despite the scale of pet ownership and a growing legal framework on animal protection, Spain is frequently cited by animal welfare organisations as one of the countries in the European Union facing persistent challenges in reducing abandonment rates. Animal protection groups have pointed to factors including regional variation in enforcement, limited public shelter capacity, and high reliance on private rescue organisations. However, comparative EU-wide statistics on abandonment are not standardised, making direct rankings complex.

Spain has introduced a national Animal Welfare Law, which came into force in 2023, aimed at strengthening identification requirements, improving breeding controls and increasing penalties for neglect. The legislation also introduced stricter obligations for pet owners, including mandatory identification and rules around care and supervision. Even so, welfare organisations argue that implementation varies between regions and that enforcement remains uneven, particularly in rural areas and in relation to stray animal management.

Abandonment patterns and seasonal pressure

Data from shelter organisations suggest that abandonment levels remain relatively consistent throughout the year, but increase during specific periods. Summer is traditionally the most pressured season for rescue centres, particularly in coastal and tourist-heavy regions.

Dawn, who runs a rescue shelter in Cádiz tells EWN about her first hand experience running a shelter and how the summer period places significant strain on facilities like hers.

“We dread every summer season, we have dogs pouring in at such a rate that we cannot house them all, we receive little help from the government and most of the expenses comes out of our own pockets,” she said. She adds, “I know most people get tired of hearing it, but please foster or adopt instead of buying.”

Estimates from welfare groups indicate that tens of thousands of animals may be surrendered or abandoned in the months leading up to the summer holiday period. In 2024, more than 290,000 animals were collected nationwide, and early indications from welfare bodies suggest that 2026 is expected to remain broadly in line with those figures if not more, based on historical intake levels.

Regional concentration of pets

The new government statistics also show that pet ownership is not evenly distributed across Spain. Andalucía accounts for the highest concentration of animals, with around 3.3 million registered pets. Cataluña follows with close to two million, while Madrid and the Valencian Community also record high numbers.

Dogs remain the most common domestic animal, representing just over half of all pets, while cats account for just over a third. Smaller exotic animals such as rabbits, ferrets, birds and reptiles make up the remaining share.

Officials say the data will be used to improve planning for animal welfare services and to support future policy development, including local-level coordination on shelter capacity and identification systems.

Ongoing policy debate

The publication of the figures has renewed debate over Spain’s approach to animal welfare. Supporters of recent reforms argue that legal changes represent significant progress in standardising care and reducing neglect. However, critics highlight that high abandonment levels continue to place pressure on shelters and local authorities.

Animal welfare organisations continue to call for stronger enforcement, improved public awareness campaigns and increased funding for rescue services. They also point to the importance of microchipping and owner accountability in reducing the number of animals entering the shelter system.

While Spain’s pet population continues to grow, the challenge remains how to ensure that welfare systems develop at a similar pace.

Àngels Barceló, one of Spain’s most respected and popular journalists and presenter of the flagship morning radio programme Hoy por Hoy on Cadena SER, recently took the show on the road to Mijas. The special broadcast of the show which regularly pulls in 3 million listeners,  presented this time from La Cala de Mijas on Friday, June 5, was part of the programme’s traditional welcome to summer from the Costa del Sol.

In the studio, or rather, on location in the coastal heart of the municipality, Barceló was joined by Ana Mata, mayor of Mijas, and two much-loved members of the local expat community who perfectly illustrate the town’s open and multinational character: Dr Sladana Obradovic and Alan Boardman.

Ana Mata introduces Spain to the many colours of Mijas

Speaking with Barceló, mayor Ana Mata described Mijas as the perfect place to lose oneself. The municipality offers three distinct worlds in one: the mountains, the sea, and a lively centre where people live and work. While some destinations are chosen so you can be seen, according to Mata, Mijas draws those who prefer to disappear into one of its 16 beautiful beaches. “Here, we can feel foreign in our own land,” she said with evident fondness. In winter the town may look quiet, she said, but it is far from empty with its 12 golf courses that attract visitors from across Europe. Mata summed up the municipality’s greatest asset simply: “Mijas is nature — an ideal setting to reconnect with oneself.”

When asked how many nationalities call Mijas home, Mata gave the striking figure of 131. “A place where everyone feels at home,” she said. “Here, the rhythm of life is different from that of big cities.”

Dr Sladana Obradovic, earns the trust of El Pueblo

To highlight this rich diversity, Barceló introduced Dr Sladana Obradovic, originally from the former Yugoslavia. Dr Obradovic has run the night shift at the health centre in Mijas Pueblo for many years and has earned the deep trust and affection of all the local community.

Alan Boardman, responsible for shining a light on Mijas culture

Barceló then welcomed Alan Boardman, who has lived in Mijas with his wife Jenny for 21 years. A proud Mancunian and Manchester United supporter (something Barceló wanted to clarify from the outset), Alan explained how he and Jenny swapped their careers in a semi-precious stones shop for a life dedicated to charitable work. Noticing there was no English-language historical tour of the beautiful and historically rich village of Mijas Pueblo, he began offering guided tours. These are run entirely for charity, with all proceeds support local associations and causes on the Costa del Sol. Alan spoke movingly about the joy he feels when he sees the expressions on visitors’ faces as they discover the many fascinating layers of Mijas’s history and culture.

Àngels Barceló then asked Mayor Ana Mata about the deeper importance of initiatives like Alan’s tours. Mata stressed that they help prevent the formation of ghettos by encouraging newcomers to learn about their new home, its history, its present, and its future. “In the end, we’re a big family,” she said.

To close the conversation, Barceló asked each of her three guests to name their favourite place in Mijas. El Pueblo was the resounding answer from each.