The Portuguese government announced that the original €13 million budget for animal welfare had been withdrawn from the 2025 State Budget. “It came as a tremendous shock amongst the animal welfare communities across the Algarve.” An announcement followed that €13.7 million would be distributed throughout the various municipalities for animal welfare.
Jenny Clarke, president of the Association for Protection of Animals Algarve (APAA), is not a lady for turning. “We are, of course, immensely relieved. But it is still not enough. We have fought hard and long for every ‘cêntimo’ we get. It’s taken us 30 years of fighting for hard-earned recognition that there’s a huge animal problem on the Algarve.”
National statistics published show a massive growth in feral cats and abandoned animals. During 2023, 101,015 dogs and 830,541 cats, quoted as being reliable ‘known’ figures.
“Spaying and neutering of all animals is necessary to stop this precipitous increase, a dangerous one for all communities, and getting out of control.” Angry she is. “People have been working so hard to keep the feral feline colonies down. It costs money. As do the abused, abandoned, often pregnant animals, we have to scrape off the streets and countryside rubbish bins. Stopping the drastic prospect of spreadable diseases in the villages and cities before it starts. Having to beg, steal and borrow from the communities’ ever-generous deep pockets. Many shelters are already pulling in their belts. Some may disappear into obscurity.”
A petition was quickly posted online. APAA’s motto for over 30 years has been just that. ‘Here to Help’. We are doing the municipalities’ job for them! Thousands of protesters turned out January 2023 to ask for better animal welfare. Their voices have been ignored. Tighter legislation is clearly the answer, and not necessarily just part of the ‘agricultural’ government package. Accountability, please.
Dates for your diary
- Saturday, November 23: Dinner and Dance, Fonte da Pedra, Alcalar, 7.30pm. Swing and smooch with the Poor Man’s Band. Menu: Couverts, beef stew or ‘bacalhau com natas’ (codfish with cream), vegetarian pasta dish. Desserts, wine, beer, water and coffee. €27.50 members/€30 non-members. Book now.
- Thursday, December 12: Lunch at Recanto dos Mouros, Silves. Soup, lamb stew or pork in grape sauce, or ‘bacalhau/prawns com natas’ or vegetarian mushroom risotto. Dessert, coffee, wine, beer, water. €27.50 members/€30 non-members. Carmen Danen will be singing.
- Ferragudo Car Boot Sale Fair every 2nd Sunday of the month. Next due December 10, starts 8am.
APAA’s charity shops in Alvor and Silves sell everything from house, garden and patio items to special Christmas bargains, tote-bags, and much more. Don’t miss out on the homemade goodies, like Jenny’s jams, preserves, pickles and marmalades, and Jackie’s scrummy short-bread cookies (also at ‘Pop-Ups’).
All APAA funds go to SNiP (Spaying & Neutering Programme) and abandoned animals. Money now needed more than ever.
Contact: Help info.apaaportugal@gmail.com
Events info: events.apaaportugal@gmail.com
By APAA
