Who We Are
We are a registered non-profit organization whose purpose is the welfare and rehoming of Algarve abandoned cats and dogs.
We are not affiliated with any one shelter. Our goal is to offer help wherever we feel it is needed most, be this to individuals with a rescue animal of their own, or to the animals of a shelter. For more information about what we do please visit special features and stories.
The objective of SOS Algarve Animals is twofold. First, to provide education upon the benefits of sterilization and responsible pet ownership and, as financial means allow, to reduce the birth of unwanted cats and dogs in the Algarve by providing financial assistance for the sterilization of female cats and dogs when the cost of such castrations would otherwise be prohibitive. Second, to work to find permanent homes for unwanted cats and dogs of the Algarve region by temporarily caring for these animals to ensure that they are healthy, social and friendly and the match between new responsible pet owner and animal is appropriate.
Education and Sterilization
We try to provide an internet forum that gives advice to individuals who are trying to help Algarve animals. Please visit How To Help A Stray.
Our hope is that by making the Algarve Animal Situation public and by offering support things will get better. Only if everyone becomes more active and stops ignoring the problem will the long-term situation have a chance to improve.
Our belief is that much of the problem in Portugal and the stray or abandoned animal situation comes from a lack of sterilization. There are sadly far more cats and dogs than homes to be found. Many people in Portugal need to be educated about the benefits of sterilization…. And many people simply need help in paying for either their animal or a stray animal to be sterilized.
Our charity and many other charities offer help in the cost of sterilization. Please contact us for more information. Or if you would like to donate to this cause please contact us or visit donations.
Finding Homes
We have a strong focus upon finding cats and dogs their forever homes. We try to provide honest, accurate and up to date information about our animals. All our animals looking for homes have been properly vetted and assessed. Our vetting is extensive and more information can be found under pet care.
Every animal old enough will be sterilized before they leave our care. All animals will have a full bloodwork analysis for all types of tick fever, for leish and heartworm. All our animals are watched carefully to ensure that they are healthy, that they act and play normally, that their fur is in good condition, that they are putting on appropriate weight. We do ask for a donation on adoption towards these costs, in special circumstances this donation will be waived.
We work with only a limited number of animals, the majority of whom we feel confident will eventually find homes. With that in mind, the time that any animal spends with us is a time of care and training so as their move into a home and family environment (be that as a guard dog or as a family pet) is a transition that goes as easily as possible.
Puppies and kittens are kept in foster families where they receive proper handling, training and socialization. Puppies and kittens will only be rehomed to responsible families who are well prepared to care for the puppy or kitten once he or she becomes an adult. As required in our adoption contract all puppies and kittens must be sterilized when they reach appropriate age and we follow up to ensure this is done. Adult cats are kept either with foster families or in cat hotels.
We work with a limited number of adult dogs. These available dogs are kept at our private center where we work with them daily to learn about their behavior, needs, suitability and where they can grow and develop. Some of our dogs are appropriate for and happy with an outdoor lifestyle, and some would prefer to be curled up next to you on the couch.
At our centre the dogs go out for play time but are often brought inside (and always at night) – in a home environment always being outdoors is not always natural and this especially helps with any separation issues and house training. It is far easier to give a dog freedom than to take it away. Our dogs are often mixed, their group of playmantes change, the routine changes, they learn how to be handled, social, how to play with many other dogs and people. We often have volunteers who take them for walks, introducing them to traffic, new sounds, smells and experiences. It is not the same as living in a home, but it is the best platform that we can provide to prepare them for this next step.
We rehome here in Portugal but we also rehome abroad. For more information about why and how we rehomed abroad please visit that page. If you or someone you know is looking to adopt please have a look at our available animals or contact us for more information.
To continue to offer this help we too need help from the community by people volunteering, fostering or by helping strays with sterilizations.