The strong storm associated with Storm Leonardo This has forced the activation of various emergency protocols in the province of Córdoba, not only to protect infrastructure and road traffic, but also to ensure the safety of animals. While work was underway against the clock to repair a sinkhole on the A-339 ring road as it passes through Priego de Córdoba, another major operation was being carried out discreetly: the mass relocation of dogs and cats due to the imminent risk of flooding.
In this context of persistent rain, wind gusts of up to 45 km/h Due to rising river levels, the municipal sanitation company of Córdoba (Sadeco) decided to preemptively drain the facilities of the Animal Welfare Service (SBA), located on the Casilla road. The operation has resulted in displacement of more than 300 animals towards an environment considered safer, the Juan Revilla environmental complex.
According to data provided by the municipal entity, the device has allowed relocate 119 cats and 196 dogs The animals were housed at the Animal Welfare Service. The transfer was carried out due to the risk of flooding at the facilities, caused by the heavy rainfall accumulated in recent hours and the condition of the rivers and streams in the area.
The measure is temporary, so the animals They will remain at the Juan Revilla complex. until the original equipment is restored to the necessary safety conditions. Once any danger from the storm has been ruled out and the facilities have been inspected, a phased return of dogs and cats to the SBA's usual location is planned.
Among the evacuated animals are not only those from the municipal service itself, but also pets of families affected by evictions In various areas of Córdoba, due to the rising river levels, around twenty pets were rescued. This measure allowed their owners to leave their homes more safely.
Initially, the Animal Welfare Service had accommodated 44 dogs and three cats belonging to residents forced to leave their homes due to the floods. As the hours passed and some areas stabilized slightly, approximately half of those animals They have already been collected by their owners, who have been able to reunite with them.
For the remaining animals that have not yet been able to return to their families, the City Council and Sadeco have arranged temporary accommodation solutionsSome of these dogs and cats remain under the direct care of the municipal service, while others have been distributed among collaborating homes thanks to the involvement of the center's regular volunteers.
Some members of volunteer plan Those who regularly collaborate with the Animal Welfare Service have taken in several animals temporarily at their own homes. This support network has been key to alleviating overcrowding and ensuring that all animals have adequate space while the storm continues to create uncertainty.
The operation has also taken into account the more delicate situation of sick animals. In this regard, the 24-Hour Animal Clinic She has taken on the care of two dogs requiring intensive veterinary monitoring, continuing their prescribed treatments. This was done to ensure that the transfer would not hinder their recovery or pose any additional risk to their health.
A move marked by planning and prevention
The municipal company Sadeco emphasizes that the evacuation of the animals was not improvised, but rather followed a plan. the evacuation plan guidelines Designed specifically for the Animal Welfare Service, this protocol considered various scenarios related to adverse weather events and potential flooding, enabling a rapid response when the risk became evident.
The activation of this plan has made it possible for the transfer of more than 300 dogs and cats The process was carried out under conditions deemed appropriate, taking into account both the physical safety of the animals and that of the professionals and volunteers involved. The process was developed in several phases, prioritizing the most vulnerable animals and organizing transport according to the available space at the Juan Revilla complex.
In parallel with the evacuation of the animal center, municipal and regional services were working on Other incidents caused by Storm Leonardo, such as the sinkhole detected on the A-339 ring road, between kilometer markers 26 and 27, near Priego de Córdoba. This problem forced the closure of the road and the establishment of alternative routes, while emergency works were carried out to restore traffic with minimum guarantees.
After several hours of intervention, the authorities were able to reopen the affected section to trafficWhile maintaining speed restrictions and recommendations to exercise extreme caution, the episode highlights how a single weather front can simultaneously affect mobility, infrastructure, and the management of resources allocated to animal welfare.
During the morning following the most difficult night of the storm, the State Meteorological Agency recorded in the area 6,8 liters per square meter Until 9:00 a.m., with wind gusts reaching 45 kilometers per hour at times. Although the figures are not extraordinary in themselves, they add to several days of rainfall and the already strained state of the riverbeds, increasing the risk of flooding and seepage.
In this scenario, the decision to to preemptively evacuate the Animal Welfare Service facilities This is part of a cautious strategy: to prevent a possible sudden flood from endangering the animals and forcing an improvised evacuation under much more complicated conditions.
Looking ahead to the next few days, the Córdoba City Council and Sadeco will continue monitoring the evolution of the weather and the river level to determine when the animals can safely return to the Casilla road. Meanwhile, the Juan Revilla environmental complex, the volunteer network, and collaborating veterinary centers will continue to provide daily care for the dogs and cats affected by this exceptional situation.
This episode highlights the importance of having specific emergency plans for animal welfare facilitiesespecially in the context of increasingly extreme weather events. The swift action in Córdoba allowed for the protection of more than 300 dogs and cats without any significant incidents, while other essential services remained operational during the storm.
