Joe, an older student, like many of his mates, is on holiday. Jenny Clarke, president of Association for Protection of Animals Algarve (APAA), is trying to keep him out of mischief. “He normally helps me out with the Ferragudo car boot sales, which we don’t do in the summer heat.”
Her white van has landed outside of Messines district in Pedreiras, where Joe says a lot of his Silves School’s Dinner Ladies reside. Free meals notwithstanding, Joe has learnt that there is a huge cat problem in the area.
“We are trying to sort out the sterilisation programme – SNiP as we call it – and then hopefully start a colony for the feral felines,” Jenny explains. “The local ladies are willing to help. They can’t afford the sterilisation costs but are willing to keep the cats fed and alert APAA to any problems.”
Joe has also decided he would like to continue Zélia Santos’ (aka Cat Woman) legacy of Silves Prison Community providing cat houses, as they have in the past.
In the meantime, there are two cats, one a young, nine-month Siamese female being SNiP’d next week, and a three-month tricolour kitten, both looking for new homes.
Sweet-looking youngster ‘Gerald’ is now off the waiting list. “Monica, who found and was fostering him, said they would keep him. They just couldn’t bear to part with him.” A real bit of good news for all! Especially Gerald.
Summer has its toll with the heat, so ‘Pop-Up’ shops, car boot sales and a lot of events are waiting around the cooler corner of autumn months.
Equinox, September 22 – so be ready for a busy season ahead. Jackie’s lunches are still ‘happening’ and other good ideas from members surfacing. Perhaps a ‘Murder Mystery’ lunch. APAA will celebrate World Animal Day on October 4. BLiP rearing its community ‘afpop’ head on October 11/12. Hopefully another successful year for the exhibitors.
The human-aid charity Emporium’s Facebook auction is running from August 15-23. All are welcome, as the charity covers so many deserving causes for the poor and homeless. People who have found themselves unable to cover their clothing costs. It happens, and some of us can say “There but for the grace of God go I’. For some, it is frightening to find the family without food and essentials for no fault of their own.
Why not visit APAA’s charity shops? I Dunas do Alvor: Mon-Sat 10.30am-2pm; Rua Elias Garcia 20, Silves: Mon-Fri 10am-2pm (Sat 1pm).
Don’t forget to follow APAA on Facebook and keep up with our news with Lisa Dowling. And all the furry friendly animals waiting for their forever homes. We cannot mention all of them here!
Jackie lunches: events.apaaportugal@gmail.com
Pets: info.apaaportugal@gmail.com
