As we prepare for the holidays at Cadela Carlota animal shelter in Lagos, we’d like to share an update on our Christmas opening hours and some important news from the shelter.
We will be closed on Thursday, December 25, open as usual on Tuesday 23, and then open again on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27, from 9am to 12.30pm. If you are considering adopting, fostering, or simply visiting the dogs, we would love to welcome you during those times.
This December has been one of our busiest fundraising periods yet. Our volunteers and local partners have been working tirelessly not only raising essential funds but also increasing awareness of the ongoing situation at the shelter.
With more than 80 dogs in our care, plus the steady stream of surrendered or abandoned puppies – including a recent litter of eight that arrived at Meia Praia inside a bag – every euro raised genuinely makes a difference. We would like to offer a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has donated, stopped to chat, or offered support. Your contributions allow us to keep going, especially during these high-pressure winter months.
Unfortunately, these abandoned litters are a direct reflection of a wider issue: the lack of sterilisation. When dogs are not sterilised, owners often find themselves with unwanted puppies they cannot place into homes. And when the situation becomes overwhelming, shelters and municipal kennels are left to manage the consequences.
Pixie, Pepe and Pipa are just one example of this. They arrived with their mother, Pipoca, who had already had several litters. By the time they reached us, the puppies were under-socialised and very shy – a common pattern among pups who haven’t grown up in stable family environments. Today, at three months old, they are beginning to come out of their shells. With the help of our team, they are learning to trust people, and they are now ready to be adopted.
If you are looking to add a four-legged companion to your home, you can meet Pixie, Pepe, Pipa and many others at the shelter on Saturday or Sunday mornings, between 9am and 12.30pm. Giving a dog a home is not just a gift to them – it’s the start of a lifelong friendship.
From all of us at Cadela Carlota, thank you for your continued support. We wish you a peaceful, warm, and animal-filled Christmas.
