Disturbingly, association Absol, based in Loulé, and their management of the ‘Bem Estar’ animal shelter has recently come under scrutiny by TVI news channel.
Albeit several reports and much concern voiced over appalling conditions of dogs being sheltered, nothing really conclusive seems to have emerged. Other than “lacks the appropriate conditions” and “no evidence of mistreatment has been found” (GNR spokesman).
Zélia Santos, APAA’s animal rescue representative, had actually visited the site and was appalled by what she encountered. Facebook connections can show the footage to which is referred to cannot be imagined as “no evidence of mistreatment”.
However, bearing in mind that we are not on site, have no first-hand knowledge of how the animals arrived, and in what condition, we can only assume that what is being reported is, in fact, correct.
The Association for Protection of Animals Algarve’s president, Jenny Clarke, has been forewarned by Zélia’s Facebook footage that there may well be a loss of meaning in the translation of our languages. “Incredibly, there does seem to be hard evidence that mistreatment has occurred on a large scale over a matter of some time.”
Legally, none of the side-bar watchers are able to really comment as they are still waiting for ‘criminal’ charges to be brought against the association Absol, who managed ‘Bem Estar’, and were paid some €50,000 annual subsidies. “There were warnings and hints over the past four years trying to make the authorities aware of the situation,” João Ferreira of ARA (Animal Rescue Algarve) says. “There should be more transparency, regulation, responsibility for these shelters. Six municipalities have been using this place as a ‘dumping’ ground.” Visibly upsetting and those who work for law-abiding, animal loving charities are bewildered that this should be happening and out in the open.
ARA and APAA will undertake any assistance possible including a meeting with PAN, the political party who are principally involved with nature and animal welfare. Loulé is not the only municipality using this shameful disgrace as a re-homing shelter. Tavira, Lagoa and Faro are amongst the others.
There is another disturbing conundrum to this problem. Euthanasia has, for the past five years or more, been the plaything subject of the beanbag tossing amongst the constitutionally correct Portuguese legal system. If, for instance, there is a reason for not putting animals to sleep, if they are in pain, have no chance of recovery from an illness, or have been tragically abused and traumatised beyond help, what do people do? Dump them, of course, leaving APAA and ARA to pick up the broken pieces and make their decisions for them. Translated. Please get your animal welfare legislation right once and for all!
Jenny (APAA): info.apaaportugal@gmail.com
João (ARA): info@animalrescuealgarve.com
By APAA
