Silves is normally a safe, bustling and open community. “Only, if you’re human,” says Jenny Clarke, president of APAA
“How far does one have to go to prove a point?” Jenny Clarke, normally cheerful and upbeat, has gnashed her teeth, denting her head against the Association for Protection of Animals Algarve’s van. “The GNR have set up a small cat-colony outside their building. There are images and motifs of some of the cats on their apartment block.”
Silves is normally a safe, bustling and open community. School bursting with cheerful children. A community where one would normally feel safe, welcoming visitors and tourists. “Only, if you’re human.”
Jenny has been president of APAA for some years now, but she has to bite back the bile. “Facebook is a meeting place for people and the community to share. We also have journals and other methods of spreading the news.”
Sadly, the world that cats live in has become a controversial storm. “We have built cat-colonies for feral felines over the years. Monitoring them, keeping the animals down to a minimum during an explosive reproductive era.”
Jenny, on the way to the Silves charity shop, had motored past the felines dwelling, slowing down as she spotted a female GNR officer and two dead cats. “The scene with two dead cats sprawled out on the grass outside of their cat-home was appalling. Outside in broad daylight for everyone to see. Where did our so-called modern world get this barbaric behaviour from?”
Facebook news travels fast, managing to locate some information: that the 12/13 cats are either missing or presumed dead. Amongst them could be two privately-owned cats. Statements have been taken by the GNR. It is not yet clear whether they were poisoned. Clarification to be made in due course. Some reports were made earlier that cats were seen behaving strangely. Presumably requiring attention.
APAA is saddened, commiserating with the cat-loving community of Silves and the TNR team, trapping, neutering and returning feral cats to various colonies, re-homing where possible, paying for their veterinary fees … the list is endless. This is often done on people’s private time and expense.
“We can all look at this and stand back, take time-out to think this through. Is this really how we want to be judged? Is this how humanity behaves towards the vulnerable?” APAA and other associations and shelters, helping animals in the Algarve for years, decades, what do we say to them? What do we say to the cat-population? “Sorry?”
On a brighter note … dates for your diary!
- The first ‘Pop-Up’ Shop of the year will be held at The Jolly Bar in Alvor, near the campsite, on February 21, from 11am to 2pm. All sorts of amazing goods. Fi-Line clothing, Gill Goodes’ cards and prints, and more.
- Look out for car boot sales on Sundays in Ferragudo – Upcoming March 9.
- Pop-Up Shop on March 10 at O Tasco restaurant in Senhora do Verde, Portimão.
By APAA
