Building Digital Infrastructure for Animal Welfare in Spain
Spain abandons 300,000 animals annually. 101 Lives is building the digital tools (Gatalogo, Foster Platform) to help associations and municipalities manage the crisis under Ley 7/2023.
300,000 animals are abandoned each year in Spain. That's 300,000 human decisions. Every year.
About a year ago, I founded The 101 Lives Association here in Spain. When I started, I knew one thing for certain: my goal wasn't to open another shelter. There are already thousands of tireless volunteers running shelters and other activities across the country and doing amazing work. But many are also overwhelmed with the volumes.
Instead, I wanted to find a different approach. I wanted to build scalable tools to support the people who are already tackling this problem.
The Shift: From Charity to Public Responsibility
With the introduction of Spain's new Animal Welfare Law (Ley 7/2023), the landscape has changed. Municipalities are now legally responsible for what happens to stray and abandoned animals.
This shift means that animal welfare is no longer just a matter of compassion; it is now a matter of coordination, public infrastructure, and cost efficiency. To manage this transition, the system needs better data and better tools.
That is what we are building at 101 Lives. Always with animal welfare first.
Milestone 1: Digitizing Colony Management with Gatalogo
We recently reached our first major milestone with the launch of Gatalogo.
Gatalogo is a specialized app designed to help associations manage street cat colonies and track TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) activity. It turns chaotic paperwork into structured data.
The first version is currently being tested by four associations in Girona, Sevilla, and Ibiza. To give you an idea of the scale: in Ibiza alone, there are around 150 colonies to manage.
What's Next: The National Foster Platform
While Gatalogo is in the field, we are preparing to pilot our Foster Platform.
Foster homes are the backbone of animal rescue. They provide essential socialization, a safe place for recovery after surgeries like TNR, and relief for overwhelmed shelters.
Our platform is designed to be a nationwide service that connects associations with foster families. It functions as a centralized network to find temporary homes for animals in need, with the long-term vision of evolving into a comprehensive adoption system.
Education & Resources: Sharing What We Know
We believe that technology must be paired with education to create lasting change. We are currently tackling this on two fronts:
1. For the Next Generation: Tails of Miaubella
We are developing an educational children's book for Spain titled Tails of Miaubella. It focuses on street cats and responsible pet ownership. We will be sharing more details on the upcoming Kickstarter campaign soon.
2. For Associations: Digital Transformation Series
A year ago, we wrote a guide on Digital Transformation for Animal Welfare Associations. Since then, the technological landscape (and the legal one) has evolved.
Rather than keeping this information locked away in an older PDF, we are updating the content and publishing it as a series of articles right here on the blog. Over the coming weeks, we will cover everything from data security to digital fundraising to help Spanish non-profits modernize their operations.
The Goal
We are based in Calahonda, Mijas, but we are building solutions for the entire country. Our ultimate goal is to get that 300,000 abandonment figure at least a little closer to the European average.
If you represent a municipality, veterinary clinic, or association and want to learn more about how our infrastructure works, please get in touch.
Thanks for caring.