The Community of Madrid and the Official College of Veterinarians have set up ten centres in six municipalities to provide free care for injured or poisoned dogs, cats, and other pets affected by the fire.
Companion animals affected by the forest fire that has been ravaging the Sierra Oeste of the Community of Madrid since last weekend can now receive free veterinary care. The Department of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior, in collaboration with the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid (COLVEMA), has launched a network of ten clinical centres spread across six municipalities in the area to care for pets that have suffered burns, smoke inhalation poisoning, dehydration, or stress.
The establishments participating in this initiative include the Aldea Veterinary Centre in Aldea del Fresno; the La Plazuela Veterinary Clinic in Villa del Prado; the ValdeIglesias, La Encinilla, and Sierra Oeste centres in San Martín de Valdeiglesias; the Veterinary Clinic of Pelayos de la Presa; and the Huellas centre in Navas del Rey. Additionally, the SCA Integral Veterinary and the Veterinary Centre are expected to join the operation as soon as authorities allow the population to return to Robledo de Chavela, one of the areas hardest hit by the flames.
The service also includes a team of veterinarians who will travel to homes to care for animals in Chapinería, Pelayos de la Presa, Navas del Rey, and Robledo de Chavela. Residents in need of this assistance can request it through the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid, which centralises requests and coordinates volunteer professionals.
The initiative, according to sources from the Department, responds to the need to ensure a rapid response to the conditions that animals exposed to smoke, high temperatures, or panic caused by the flames may develop. “Burns on paws and snouts, carbon monoxide poisoning, or severe dehydration are the most common emergencies in these cases,” detailed COLVEMA spokespeople. The participating centres will attend to all companion animals without the need for prior appointments and at no cost to the owners.
At the same time, the regional government has begun distributing 300,000 kilograms of forage and 20,000 litres of water to livestock farms in the region, aiming to prevent farm animals from suffering the consequences of the fire and to mitigate the economic losses faced by local farmers and ranchers. This measure is in addition to the direct aid already announced for those affected by the fire.
The fire, which has already devastated more than 2,500 hectares of forest and forced the evacuation of several hundred residents, remains active although emergency services have managed to stabilise its perimeter. Air quality in nearby municipalities continues to be poor, and authorities recommend keeping pets indoors and avoiding walks until the situation improves.
Citizens residing in the affected areas who do not have a trusted veterinarian can go to any of the centres in the network deployed by the Community and COLVEMA. A complete list of clinics and the contact number for requesting home assistance are available on the website of the Official College of Veterinarians of Madrid.
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