Over 20 years of tireless work helping Aljezur’s neglected and abandoned animals
Over 20 years of tireless animal work in Aljezur saw the core group of volunteers that make up AEZA (the Associação Ecologista e Zoófila de Aljezur) receive a gold municipal medal of merit and dedication yesterday.
As the Costa Vicentina town prepares for three days of ‘municipal celebrations’ (Thursday August 29 being the town’s public holiday), the municipality awarded some of its citizens and entities medals – AEZA’s being of the “gold standard”.
Mayor José Gonçalves wrote in proposing the award that “in spite of daily difficulties, due to a very limited budget, the negligent practices of a significant slice of the population, a lack of volunteers and increasing requests for help, AEZA and its volunteers have rescued, looked after, sterilised, and sent for adoption hundreds of animals which, without their intervention, would be living in squalid conditions or wandering the streets of the towns and villages of this municipality”.
Recognising that AEZA’s work “dignifies Aljezur”, he thanked all those who arrived in AEZA t-shirts for the ceremony, saying that he recognised there is still so much to do, but also that a lot has already been done, and “done well”.
AEZA struggles nonetheless: it struggles to find enough people to walk its dogs three times a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings/ Sunday afternoons); it struggles to find good homes for its animals, whether ‘forever homes’ or interim foster care. It struggles to improve the condition of animals in the care of negligent owners – and most of all it struggles to pay mounting costs.
To find out more about this organisation founded by a former Portuguese vet, and bringing together animal lovers of all nationalities, see AEZA’s website, or turn up on a dog walking day and help this hard-working project spread a little more of its magic. ND
