In hopes that it will help reduce the number of people who abandon their animals before going on holiday, Portugal’s “people, animals and nature party” (PAN) is pushing for “at least two dog-friendly” beaches in the Algarve.
Although there are several beaches in the region that are well-known among locals as being “dog-friendly,” the party has already requested an “urgent meeting” with the Algarve municipalities’ association (AMAL) to discuss the idea.
As PAN points out, “every year there is a very high rate of abandoned dogs, with summer being the season when the number of cases is most dramatic.
“Even though there is no justification for this kind of act, the difficulties that families face to bring their pet animals along with them on holiday usually is at the root of the problem,” the party adds.
Susana Santos from the party’s regional commission in Faro says families “want to have their pets with them on holiday without worrying about how they will react when they are gone, as we know that many of them stop eating or get sick”.
PAN also says that the Algarve’s alleged lack of dog-friendly beaches has led many people to complain to PAN and threaten to spend their holidays next year some place else given the “intolerance” that they face here, the party says.
