Bloco de Esquerda (left wing) MP João Vasconcelos visited the Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA) shelter near Loulé last week and was told about the reality of animal welfare in the Algarve.
After a tour of ARA’s facilities, João Vasconcelos acknowledged that animal shelters “actually help the local councils to fix a problem”, adding that a focus on quality should be the ultimate goal and that prior to being adopted, “animals need to be adequately handled”.
The politician praised the “significant steps” recently taken in national legislation regarding the defence and protection of animal welfare, while recognising the need for more progress, particularly regarding “sensitising and educating the general public, local authorities and even central government”.
João Vasconcelos said the work carried out by ARA is of “public interest”, considering the problem of abandoned and mistreated animals, to which “the state and municipalities cannot give an answer”.
The MP was accompanied by regional members of his party, Carlos Martins (Loulé municipal assembly), Nuno Viana (district coordination commissioner) and Joaquim Sarmento, Tiago Grosso and Rogério Ferreira (regional coordination commissioners).
Animal welfare in Portugal has recently risen to the forefront for all the wrong reasons, with ever-increasing numbers of abandoned animals roaming the streets and overcrowded municipal kennels.
Despite its average of 20 monthly adoptions, ARA alone reports a waiting-list of over a month, receiving about 20 requests for help a day.
The association relies solely on private donations and currently lacks any formal partnerships with governmental entities.
You can find out more about ARA by visiting the shelter or through their social media and website:
https://www.facebook.com/animalrescuealgarve/
https://www.instagram.com/animalrescuealgarve/
https://animalrescuealgarve.com/
