SINTRA’S MUNICIPAL kennels are swamped with animals that owners have abandoned during the holiday season.
Under Portuguese laws, abandoning animals on the streets is punishable by fines of between 500 and 3,750 euros.
Sintra municipal vet Alexandra Pereira said that in the town, as with municipal kennels
in other ditricts of Portugal, irresponsible and selfish people were going on holiday and abandoning or taking their pets to the kennels.
The result is that, during the holiday period of August, the Canil Municipal de Sintra is over capacity because it costs more to put the animals in a private kennel.
“We see animals with broken paws, victims of road traffic accidents while some dogs are just left chained to the door of the kennels during the night,” she said.
The vet explained that the municipal kennels had to keep the dogs at least eight days before attempting to find new homes for them. “Some have a happy ending but others are not so fortunate and have to be put down if we can’t get them adopted.”
During the holiday season, the kennels are so full that 15 dogs have to be put down per week. “Many animals arrive in such a poor state of neglect and health they are almost dead,” she said.
On one day alone, the Canil Municipal de Sintra, which takes in 300 abandoned animals a month, received five dogs with broken limbs. The kennels have also received cats which were found trapped inside rubbish containers.
The Câmara has decided to construct new, larger kennels because of the appalling situation.
If you are interested in giving a dog or cat a home, then contact the Canil Municipal de Sintra on 219 238 816, open Mondays-Fridays 9am-12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm. Alternatively, visit www.canilsintra.no.sapo.pt (only in Portuguese).
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