There are many estrangeiros who can honestly nod and wink that this is the best decision they have ever made. Some of them are rich and famous. Bonnie Tyler, Cliff Richard (Sir!), Ronan Keating, and Justin Hayward to name a few.

Ah! Those were the days. Nearly all the foreign property owners, or long-term visitors here have pets. The need for companionship, a watchful eye. Something other than yourself to care for or look after. APAA sees the happy and sad faces of their lives. All 9 of them. From a Cat’s point of view, it is probably a CATch22. Survival of the fittest. “Cats should be an endangered species.” Jenny Clarke, President of The Association for Protection of Animals Algarve, and her very own ‘cat-woman’ Zélia Santos, are in agreement.


“We have to draw the line where euthanasia is concerned.” Agreed. “Even vets will play the wait-and-see game. It is not fair on the animal. Cat’s especially seem to go into a gradual shutting down period.” Sadly this is true. Even where we humans are involved with something terminal; the body seems to shut down in some sort of priority order. The brain is the last to go. “A ginger cat, run over, back broken. Has no chance of surviving.” Jenny looks sad but is determined. “The cat is trying to survive through instinct and pure adrenalin!” Watching the animal gradually reduce to a bag of bones and so frail is hard to endure. Poor ‘Ginger’ is the result of a local speed merchant, a callous hit-and-run case. Not so cool.

Jenny and Anita’s diary dates! APAA Stall at ‘Convent’bio’ Lagoa Friday 27 September 11am-4pm General household goodies, Pet Corner. Pop-Up shop ‘O Tasco’ Senhora do Verde 7 October 12-3pm. Special Menu do Amigo ‘Chicken Piri-Piri’. Book lunch directly 282 471 769. Pictures, ornaments, books a mini-bazar! APAA’s Stand at afpop’s BLiP (Better Living in Portugal) Saturday/Sunday 12/13th October. Sat 10-6pm/Sun 10-4pm. Special welcoming table for new members. Come and chat. ‘Jolly’ Bar Alvor Friday 25 October 10.30-2pm Another amazing shopping adventure. Check out the curtains and linen. Also Gill Goode’s arts, cards and prints. With Fiona’s Fi-Line clothing, jewellery and make-up. Yeah! AND! Ferragudo Fair Car Boot Sale Sunday 10th November and 8th December starts at 8.00am! . Also keep a look out for APAA on Facebook’s monthly group Charity Auctions with Emporium.

Not forgetting! Charity shops at Alvor and Silves always welcome shoppers who bring and buy. Stacked with goodies! Don’t forget all ‘Pop-Up’ Shops, and stalls will have a super yummy array of homemade jams, preserves, chutneys and marmalades and scrummy cookies! Funds for cat-colonies and abandoned animals.

Contact: Help info.apaaportugal@gmail.com

Events info: events.apaaportugal@gmail.com

BLiP: info@afpop.com