Mijas Limits Donkey Taxis and Horse-Drawn Carriages Under Heat Alerts

Mijas/The City Council of Mijas has issued a new decree concerning the donkey and horse-drawn carriage services which includes, as one of its main points, the restriction of their operation on particularly hot days.

Thus, the document signed by the town's mayor, Ana Mata, is structured around three fundamental axes. The first regulates the provision of service in case the AEMET (State Meteorological Agency) issues a yellow warning for high temperatures, during which the animals should not be out between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Similarly, when the warnings are orange or red, the service will not be available while the alert remains active.

With the aim of preserving the health of the animals and the coachmen and muleteers themselves, the decree has embraced the ‘Guide of Good Practices for Welfare in Equines of Public Service Horse-drawn Carriages’, published by the General Council of the College of Veterinarians of Spain.

The second point of the decree refers to the collection of excrement. “The system for collecting excrement at all stops of this service will be the responsibility of the concessionaires, and failure to do so will be punishable as a serious offense. Similarly, the cleaning of animal excrement along the route will also be the responsibility of the concessionaires,” the City Council has stated.

For this reason, the use of preventive excrement collection systems attached to the animal is recommended to prevent the droppings from falling to the ground, while reminding that non-compliance with this obligation constitutes a serious offense, punishable by a fine of 750€ to 1,500€.

Lastly, it is recommended that the rope by which the animals are tied at stops and rest areas, as well as while they are attached to the carriage during their routes, should be at least 50 centimeters long to ensure “a minimum standard of freedom of movement and well-being for the animals.”

With all this, the City Council of Mijas once again demonstrates its commitment to the safeguard and welfare of muleteers, coachmen, and the animals themselves.