“There are many private shelters and associations that take care of the lost ones.”

Jenny, President of APAA has first-hand experience of the joy and pain of these poor animals. “There are good Canils, run by the local councils, but they too rely on the goodness of the local people. Hard work at these shelters. Volunteers, dare I say it again? Always needed and very much welcomed.”

Portimão’s volunteers set up FCP (Friends Canil Portimão). “The problem lies within the abandonment of so many animals, some in critical condition.” Jenny is a regular visitor and supporter. “We know how much effort the paid workers put in, a thankless task. Some of these animals are almost beyond saving. They are given everything possible to pull them through.” Most have had an awful life. No food, or water. Chained up all day in the dark ruins of a barn or a splintered crate. Some are very pregnant. “Thanks to the volunteers and their hard work, love and devotion, the animals get a chance to be re-homed.” Having up to 350 cats and dogs per year is a heavy bill, including food, and veterinary fees. All shelters and associations looking after animals and their welfare have a tough job nowadays. “Politically correct speech doesn’t help. A dead dog is a dead dog. A healthy well looked after is a happy dog.” Unfortunately, there are more of the former than the latter.

“Education has played an enormous part in a more positive attitude towards the abandonment and cruelty to animals. Starting with young children helps enormously.” Schools are now involved at all levels, from raising charitable funds and special ‘Animal’ days. “The canils need walkers, people who want to have a good training session and help the animals they are visiting. Some build up a long-term relationship with the dogs and it is a good positive sign that they also are easier to re-home.” With endless pleas for money, donations often fall on fallow ground. “But, we do get the help we need from the most unexpected places!” Jenny grins.


“Supermarkets and their unsellable bags of litter, food and produce like rice. Brilliant!” The Association for Protection of Animals Algarve’s white van is loaded and ready to do a delivery run. “Animals finding their way into a Canil are the most deprived. The Canil can only take in the most desperate of cases. Sometimes we have to divert an animal to another shelter or sanctuary if the Canil is full. Which it is almost always. They need a lot more space and help but money gets tighter when it is an animal cause. A worldwide problem.” So it would seem.

Contacts: www.friendscanilportimao.com

Info.apaaportugal@gmail.com