• A total of 35 exhibitors, including companies, clinics, and associations, present to the public the latest innovations and a complete catalogue of products and services for companion animals

The Companion Animal Fair, Animundo, has kicked off its seventh edition with the premise of being more conscious than ever about responsible pet ownership. For the first time, one of the fair’s star activities, the adoption catwalks, cannot be completed on the spot. Instead, all those interested in adopting an animal must initiate the process later to complete it at the Gran Canaria Insular Animal Shelter to avoid impulsive adoptions that are not done thoughtfully and sensibly.

The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, accompanied by Minerva Alonso, Councilor for Economic Development, Industry, Commerce and Crafts of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria; Raúl García, Councilor for Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge; and the general director of Infecar, Natalia Santana, inaugurated this Saturday this seventh edition, which will be open until 8:00 p.m. today and tomorrow, Sunday, September 29, will reopen from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“This is a space created for awareness, animal welfare, training, adoption, and to increase our level of knowledge and, therefore, better treatment of animals, which has been an extraordinary success,” Antonio Morales stated. He also highlighted that “from early morning, we see hundreds of people at Infecar with their dogs to enjoy this event.”

However, Morales pointed out that “many abandonments are still occurring. The Gran Canaria Insular Animal Shelter has taken in 309 dogs and 70 cats this year. The island’s municipalities are also getting involved in this work, so we understand that this figure could double in the insular territory. We must promote awareness, training, and education; animals cannot be abandoned.”

This Companion Animal Fair, promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and organized by Infecar, aims to facilitate the meeting of professionals, families, and animal lovers who have in one place all the products and services for responsible care of companion animals.

To this end, its program includes different workshops and activities to reinforce education in caring for companion animals. These actions are complemented by experts and authorized voices sharing their vision, knowledge, and experience.

Similarly, the fair exhibits a vast catalogue of products and services from 35 exhibitors, including stores and food brands, insurance companies, veterinary clinics, and firms dedicated to therapy and education of companion animals, home care and services, or even water treatment, along with associations and animal protection organizations and public entities such as the municipalities of Santa Lucía de Tirajana or Telde, and the Gran Canaria Insular Animal Shelter.

Thus, the attending public can be aware of the latest developments and the most suitable products for caring for their companion animals through direct interaction with companies, veterinary services, groups oriented to animal protection, and public administration.

Tickets to the fair can be purchased on the official event website, animundo.es. General admission is 1.50 euros, while access is free for children under 12, disabled people, unemployed people, and pensioners, although the ticket must be withdrawn in advance.

People who wish to access the venue with their dogs can consult the access rules on the same website. Before entering the fair, they must prove their identity with their ID as the animal’s owner and show their up-to-date health card.

Care and happiness

The general program of Animundo 2024 began this morning with the talk ‘First Aid’ by Carlos Rodríguez, veterinarian, director and co-owner of Centros Veterinarios Mascoteros, president of the Mascoteros Foundation, and presenter and director of the program ‘Como el Perro y el Gato’ on Onda Cero.

Rodríguez, through a very didactic presentation, explained to attendees how to care for their animals in case of an accident so that their arrival at the nearest veterinarian was better guaranteed.

Likewise, Carlos Rodríguez was also in charge of conducting the first of Animundo’s adoption catwalks, emphasizing that “a relationship with an animal should last as many years as the animal’s life” and encouraging those present, in case they feel that connection with any of those parading, “do not be carried away by an impulse but from the awareness and responsibility that caring for them involves an important dedication.”

For his part, clinical ethologist and social media content creator Adrián Conde focused his intervention on the need to understand each other between species, specifically between dogs, cats, and humans, since, despite not speaking the same language, it is possible to understand a wide variety of situations through the signals they give us.

Program

The afternoon of this first day of Animundo will open with canine ethologist Eider Fernández, with her talk ‘Potentially dangerous dogs; the least understood typology’, dedicated to a topic that this edition of Animundo focuses on primarily. At 4:45 p.m., Eloísa González will lead a round table with people who have adopted companion animals under the title ‘The wonderful action of adoption: Real cases’.

On Sunday, September 29, Alejandro Suárez, president of the Official College of Veterinarians of Las Palmas, will offer, at 11:00 a.m., the conference ‘App Zoocan—technology for citizen awareness in the management of feline colonies. Veterinarian and social media content creator Carmen Barreiro will discuss, at 1:15 p.m., how to ‘Improve your furry friend’s health through their diet’. And at 6:15 p.m., Sira Roiz, a veterinarian at the Gran Canaria Insular Animal Shelter, will offer the talk ‘Gran Canaria Insular Animal Shelter-Cabildo of Gran Canaria’.

Exhibitions and workshops

Agility, a sport in which the animal and its guide establish a unique bond while completing obstacle courses designed with fences, tunnels, walkways, or seesaws, will take the stage at 6:15 p.m., led by Manuel Álvarez, Agility instructor at Club Deportivo Lomo Salas. This will be followed by the exhibition that, at 7:00 p.m., will be carried out by the Canine Group of the Civil Guard of Las Palmas.

On Sunday, September 29, at 12:45 p.m., a new exhibition will be held in the outdoor areas of the fairgrounds by the units of the Local Police of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria GOIA-UE and the Coexistence and Mediation Unit (UMEC). In addition, at 4:45 p.m., a ‘Punishment-free canine education workshop’ will be developed, led by Laura Valle, canine instructor, in assisted ATAP Canarias and Terapican interventions.

Professional day

As happened in 2023, Animundo experienced a professional day yesterday as a prelude to its appointment with the general public this Saturday. This forum, aimed at a specialized audience, has served to share experiences around the sector’s current situation.

Alejandro Suárez, president of the Official College of Veterinarians of Las Palmas, and Juan Capote, biologist, veterinarian and doctor from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and academic of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Tenerife, were the speakers at this session which addressed the use of technology for the management of feline colonies in local entities and the oddity of Canarian native dog breeds.

Finally, Pilar Muñoz, professor at UCO, veterinarian, coach, and CEO of VetySana, gave a workshop on managing grief over animal deaths. In it, clinical professionals addressed their doubts and concerns when facing painful situations in the consultation.

Muñoz emphasized that part of veterinary training does not come specifically from educational programs but “that we must also include in our functions such as improving the quality of life of our patients, transmitting information, being emotional support and accompaniment for patients and their families.”

Animundo is promoted and financed by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and organized by Infecar, Gran Canaria Fair; sponsored by Kiwoko, Koala Mascotas, El Corte Inglés and Purina; it has Cajasiete as an official collaborator and the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria, the Insular Animal Shelter, the Official College of Veterinarians of Las Palmas, Club Granky, ATAP Canarias, Club Deportivo Lomo Salas and Agapea, as collaborators.