In these two last weeks of April it has been very busy again. We had two new litters of puppies brought in. All but two puppies are now happily reserved (Danny and Davino for new families in Portugal, and Jeffy to Frankfurt). Jason and Juliette still need to find their families. They are very lovely, 3 months old, and we expect them to be medium sized adults.

Jason (left) Juliette (center) and Jeffy (right).

Santo has also found a lovely new Daddy and he will be going to his new home next week. We have had Santo for many many months, he was found abandoned on the streets, is a truly wonderful dog and we think he has now found his special forever home.

Three females came in for spaying (two were mummies of the puppy litters), all were neutered and returned. There were two flights to Holland and two flights to Berlin. The Rainbow litter travelled, and the new mummy of Jane even came from Holland to take Jane and the rest of the Rainbow Litter to their new homes.   Thank you Stacey it was lovely meeting you! The 4 cinza puppies and their mummy, Diana, Jaffa and Picassa also all travelled to their new homes abroad. Before the end of the month Praia, Sevino, Ylena and cat Novo will also be travelling to their new homes.

Jane at her new home in Holland with Stacey

Aladin (of the Disney puppies) also came back for a visit to the vet and met his brothers and sisters… a bit of growling but a happy reunion and Aladin is doing very well with his new family. The other puppies are still in foster care (as are the 6 Adriana puppies, cato, lotus, and Lulu) but all 14 of these puppies will be moving to their new homes in the next few weeks.

Aldain with his new mummy back at the vet for a visit and vaccine

Cat Tina was happily rehomed, along with Rollo and Zebra (thank you Roz for responding to the urgency for Zebra!). All are settling in very well to their new homes and families, although Tina broke through a window on day 3 or 4… thankfully she happily found her way back to her new home at dinner time. Snowwhite, Macy, and Cleo are all wonderful cats and they are still looking for their new homes and families.

Macey, an extremely loving cat who still needs to find her home

Many new dogs have arrived for help. Six of these dogs are staying with their caretakers for a while (Juno, Sparto, Cindy, Choccy, Misha and Bunny), but all will need to find homes in the near future. And four few new dogs are already with us for rehoming and if all goes well will be posted as available next week.

Choccy --- needs a home

More about our new arrivals and animals in need of homes are available by clicking on available animals.

Sadly, many more people than this have called for help. We ask the same of all these persons, the situation, description, story and if they could send photos of the animal in need. (This is all laid out on the updated section of the website “found a stray and what to do”). Some of these contacts we have already or soon will be helping, and some have either not sent us this information or the situation is such that the dog or cat is best left where it is. Sadly, the general answer from many shelters when people find a dog or cat and ask for help is that there is no space and they are full. This is the reality in the Algarve and all over Portugal. There are not enough homes, there are not enough shelters…Sadly, one such mummy and her puppies came in to us with their rescuer.  The mummy had followed her home, next morning……9 puppies.  She had tried many other places to offer sanctuary to mummy and puppies but no one can help.  As their rescuer is only here for two more weeks leaving them on the roadside is not an option.  As we ourselves only have the funds, space, and homes to be able to help some of the litter, with no alternative some of the puppies were put to sleep by a vet…and the two puppies and mummy for whom we can offer space we will take in for care and rehoming in two weeks time.  The mummy is 9 years old, she should never have been pregnant in the first place, let alone pregnant and abandoned…

We urgently need dog walkers and puppy fosters. Dog walking is a truly lovely way to pass an hour or so. The dogs love this time and extra attention and it really helps them get used to changes in their environment. And puppy fostering is a wonderful way to help, tremendously appreciated and needed. We can often find homes for more puppies than we have space for, so this is truly a way to not only gain some puppy love for a few weeks but also know that you are helping to save these puppies from a far worse fate.

And please do not forget about the Algarve Dog Show June 2 and June 3. It is a great occasion. And we also need help from volunteers!

It has also been a very sad week, many of you will know Barney – Ginie’s enormous rescue puppy. He was adopted by Ginie when he was about 3 months old and he was growing into a wonderful and very very special big boy. But heartbreakingly, he had severe hip dysplacia and there was nothing that the vets could do. So this week, with broken hearts, no longer able to run or play, Barney was put to sleep. Rest in peace special boy…

Until next time.

The team at SOS Algarve Animals.

In early May 2011 Moppie was seen on the street near the house of one of our volunteers. Moppie was incredibly thin, but it was also clear to see that very recently she had puppies. The volunteer brough food and water to Moppie twice a day, and she was incredibly hungry. But was also afraid of people, she never came near, always remained at a distance. After a few days this started to change, Moppies would recognize the car and come running if she heard whistling.

For three weeks she was provided with food and water, in the meantime, the volunteer kept searching for Moppie’s puppies. But Moppie had them very well hidden and it was still impossible to touch Moppie, she was so afraid of people.

Then one morning, after Moppie had finished her breakfast, she waited and looked at the volunteer as if asking her to follow. Dear little Moppie, so scared and detached as she had been, she was ready to show the puppies. And so Moppie walked in front, with our volunteer following, always looking back to check that she was there. And eventually she stopped, and the 4 pups were found under a bush, completely covered in mud and soaked through and through with all the rain that had fallen that month.

Moppie allowed the pups to be picked up and then followed them towards the house of our volunteer, she walked into the garden effortlessly. The pups were very sweet and easy to approach.

Moppie very soon after allowing her puppies to be found

And again with her puppies, but gaining trust and confidence

Moppie let her fear of man go, and began to adore the volunteer with everything she has. However, strange people were definitely not welcome and were greeted with snarls, growls and even bared teeth towards your calves if you were not careful. Because of this behavior, we were not sure we could rehome Moppie. But our volunteer did not give up and Moppie, now almost a year with the volunteer, shows that she has become a very loving little dog. She has been given extra love and care and shown such tremendous progress that it’s amazing.

Moppie’s puppies all found homes. The girl was rehomed here in Portugal and the three boys found new homes in Germany.

Moppie is definitely not a morning dog, she has a warm comfortable basket where she curls up at night and in the morning she stretches, yawns a few times, and falls back asleep, which produces sounds which seem to say, let me now sleep just a little more…

She will go along on the daily walks, love the car. She is friendly, sometimes reluctantly, to new people, but absolutely not aggressive. She has learned so much in a year, learned and unlearned! Moppie is an absolute treasure, she will need some time to adjust to a new environment, but will definitely attach to her new people … who can offer her a comfy basket?

Moppy is a 3 year old podenco cross weighing 14 kilos.  She is neutered, vaccinated, and tested negative leish and heartworm.  More photos of Moppie available at this link.

Lukky:

It was December 2010 that Lukky was first seen. Another extremely skinny and scared podenco bitch, another one left in the middle of nowhere by local hunters. Lukky appeared in the vicinity of a large villa, near the river in the hills, and decided to stay with the two dogs that belonged to the villa. Lukky was always there with his tail between his legs, it was assumed that Lukky was a male, until …. Lukky grew very big, and the nipples began to swell. Oh no, Lukky is a bitch, and extremely pregnant also .. The big black dog who lives in the villa was the father of the puppies … By the time we knew that this was a pregnant bitch, it was too late to do anything, and on 21 February, two beautiful puppies were born, Dineke and Tommy. The whole family, Lukky, Dineke and Tommy was very lovingly incorporated into the house of a volunteer. The pups quickly found a new home, Dineke went to the Netherlands, and Tommy was adopted by the occupant of the villa.

Lukky at the volunteer's home with Tommy and Dineke

Later, Lukky moved back to the river and the villa, where she was happy with Spike, the father of the puppies..

It looks like a great story, but the reality is different. Life outside the villa is not a happy life, the villa is in a hunting area, where local hunters create dangers for dogs and set illegal traps. One of these traps recently nearly killed Lukky. Her son Tommy was hit by a tractor, and died at only 5 months old.

Lucky with Tommy outside the villa

Lukky recently disappeared for a few days, and this was very unusual, there were a lot of time and effort to find her, we were desperate. After a few days we got the message that Lukky was back with a rabbit run around her neck. Lukky had been able to bite free of the snare, but she had a huge gash in her neck, under her armpits. Even her lips were completely destroyed from having to bite through the wire.

Lucky's Injury

The vet gave her several stitches and she survived and is back at the villa. However, the villa was sold, the resident (not the owner, but the care taker) must move, and goes back to the UK, along with Spike … and Lukky is left alone, heartbreaking.

Lukky is a bit shy, but very sweet. Not nearly as anxious as in 2010. If she knows you a bit, she is sweet and affectionate, and loves to cuddle. Lukky is about 15 kilos, and 2.5 years old.  She is neutered, vaccinated, tested negative leish and heartworm.

Please see link for more photos of Lukky.

Poor little Romara is just one year old and has had a terrible life so far. A tiny little dog, she was found in a box tied to the side of the road. Bad enough when someone abandon’s their animal in such a way, but for Romara the situation was even worse. A man saw the box, went to investigate, and could not believe his eyes. There was a little white dog. Her coat was so knotted she could barely move but she was also in excruciating pain. Her back leg was almost hanging off, the joints were unattached, half the paw had rotted away. The infection was so bad that the bones had disintegrated up to her hip and the paw no longer existed. And this is the condition she was in when she was abandoned in a cardboard box on the side of the road. Her rescuer later found out that she had been there for almost one week before he fortunately was curious enough to stop and have a look.

Romara when found

What was left of Romara's Leg

So he brought her immediately to the vet and she was named Romara. Even with the pain she suffered we cannot share how absolutely wonderful, sweet, gentle and loving she was..

Romara at the vet and before surgery

Her leg was amputated two days after being brought to the vet and even just the day after she is so much happier …and no wonder. She is now completely recovering, under our care, and is a very sweet and energetic little dog who is loving her new life.

Romara day after surgery

The family who found Romara have sponsored her vet bills. And so a big thank you to them and what a tremendous relief to know that a such a sad animal has received the help she so urgently needed.

Happily, Romara has been reserved by one of the organizations we work with in Holland, where they will find her a very special family for a special little dog and where she can forget that the first year of her life was so filled with pain and sadness.

More photos of Romara’s journey available at this link.

There are unwanted puppies (and kittens have now begun) everywhere we look in Portugal. Hundreds in shelters… hundreds on the street. The only way forward is by sterilization of female dogs and cats so as the constant reproduction of unwanted puppies and kittens stops.

In the past month we have sterilized 23 female dogs, plus cats, from situations where they were reproducing. And this week we have more female dogs arriving. All these dogs have persons looking after them… they do not need to be rehomed, their quality of life is otherwise ok. But sadly their care takers simply do not have the money to pay for them to be sterilized.

A conservative average is that 6 babies are born per litter. This means that in the past month we have stopped the birth of about another 138 unwanted puppies.

Many of these sterilization situations are different…… They are not dogs with a traditional home or owner. We are not funding the sterilization of individual pets….

An example of the type of home that some of these dogs have

We do not fund expensive vet care, sadly, our funds will always go first towards sterilization, and there never seems to be enough.

As an example, one of our volunteers came across an old dog who was extremely sick near Gorjoes. Positive for leish, very old, extremely skinny, his paw infected with lesions, there was little that could be done except to humanely euthanize. Except this dog had a registered microchip and so we contacted the owner, who is an elderly Portuguese lady. She loves her dogs but simply does not have the funds to care for them, and the situation is now worse as her husband recently died.

So after talking to the lady, the old boy was put to sleep and we paid the owner a visit. The dogs are fine, with plenty of space. Assistance with food has been given by another charity. But there were 2 visibly pregnant dogs, another mum and puppies, and another 3 female dogs on the premises. So 5 dogs and 4 cats have so far been sterilized. And the mum and puppies will be taken in once they are old enough for rehoming and sterilization. She is extremely grateful for the help. She does not want puppies. She would sterilize all of her dogs happily, she simply had no way to do this without the help. Yet another 30 less unwanted puppies and 24 less unwanted kittens.

Then in Loule we received a call for help from a gypsy camp. Family of the chief is distraught at the condition of their dogs, whom they love and want to be well and healthy, but are unable to do anything without help. We are amazed at this request, and so offered as much help, without interfering, as they were willing to accept. There are sixteen families in this camp, and all but one want their females sterilized. Unlike common rumour, there is no desire to reproduce and sell puppies. So far 6 females have come to our vet and been sterilized, and there are still more to be done. Our vet also agreed to visit the camp, and the dogs are now being treated for skin conditions. But basically, the dogs are all very happy, well fed, well cared for. The gypsies have also asked us to help with the rehoming of one female and her puppy, a small male who has been in an accident, and needed veterinary treatment, and two more puppy’s have come into our care. Due to sterilization, now another 36 less unwanted puppies.

Other calls have come in. Other litters. Adriana – 6 puppies for rehoming and she has been sterilized. The mummy of the 6 Disney puppies. Two kitten litters as well, both litters have mummies who will be sterilized. Individuals who have neighbours with litters of puppies, and managed to find those puppies homes, those mummies have been sterilized. The unwanted puppies become less and less… and yet there are still more. Another 11 such females have been sterilized this month, another 66 less unwanted puppies.

That totals…just since March, well over 138 unwanted puppies being born. As we have had about 25 puppies for rehoming in the same time period, if we also would have had the others there is simply no way to cope.

We and other groups rescue and rehome as many puppies or kittens as we can, but even together it is impossible as the numbers are so high. Many of the unwanted puppies and kittens will be left on the street having to fend on their own and will die, many puppies and kittens which are left in shelters, many of these will die too. Many will never leave the shelters. Many will grow into street dogs and cats who continue reproducing.

So we try to place a strong focus on funding sterilizations whenever such help is needed. Sadly, it is expensive. But these are female dogs and cats who would not otherwise be sterilized, they would otherwise be left having litter after litter after litter…..and so while we love finding homes, if that is all we do, it will never be enough…..

We will soon be having another fundraiser towards paying for sterilizations. On average it costs 100 euros per female dog and 50 euros per female cat. Help and donations are definitely and continuously needed.

It would be a far better place if the only puppies or kittens who needed homes were those who were actually wanted. The season is at its peak, and saying no to requests for help with sterilization has very sad consequences.

More photos of some of our March/April sterilization dogs are available by clicking this photo album.

And for more information on how to donate please visit donations.

Thank you.

The team at SOS Algarve Animals.

Friday 4th November, 2011

of a volunteer for SOS Algarve Animals..

After more than a week being overloaded with many abandoned dogs and animal related issues, I finally have a day off.. to show my visitor from Holland more of the Algarve than the roads to the veterinary clinics in the Almancil area. So, despite the rain, we leave the house towards Vila Real do San Antonio, Castro Marim, Alcoutim, looking forward to a dog free day…

We are hardly 10 minutes away from our house, where we see an anbadoned dog in the pouring rain..walking up to cars in the road. I pull over and take some dogfood, but that is the last thing this dog has on his mind. As soon as I get out of the car, he comes running up wagging his tail…and tries to jump into the car, front seat, behind the steering wheel.. He is in an atrociousl state, skin and bone, and with a skin problem or sarna….but despite his condition, he is the most friendly and outgoing dog I have run into in a long time.. He just wags his tail. We put a lead on him and coach him towards the back of the car. I lift him  in, and he just wags his tail..endlessly..he smelly, really badly. I call one of our vets, and after some talks, we are on our way to the vet, instead of Castro Marim…

Upon arrival we immediately weigh him and he is 27 kilo..sounds a nice weight, but he is a Serra de Estrela, and looking at him, he should weigh at least 40 kilo’s…and he just wags his tail.. My first thought, looking at his teeth before lifting him in the car was, that he was an older dog, approx 6 years old. But I told the vet I was not sure about his teeth, something did not match.
When we go in with the vet, his temperature is taken, an overall checkup being done, and blood is taken for testing on heartworm, leishmaniose and a microscope analysis on tickfever. The leish test is negative, there is microfilaria in his blood, and there are some heartworm, stage 1…and he has sarcoptic mange..Devastating news…what a combination…
We check his teeth again, and his molers are without any tar and in extremely good condition, like young dogs’molers but his front teeth are completely worn, there is nothing left. There are some possibilities, and the most likely one is that he has lived as chained up dog, chewing either his chain or rocks.. He is being aged at maximum two years old.
Some calls are being made, as to what to do with him, he will be contagious for a month with his sarcoptic mange. He will need to be isolated from the other dogs for some time..We manage to find a solution for our problem, and this always his tail wagging dog is being named, Kwispel. Which is Dutch for wagging tail..
https://picasaweb.google.com/villazwerfhondopvanghonden/Kwispel#

More than one hour behind on our initial schedule, we finally set off for Castro Marim, Alcoutim, and Odeleite, quite a nice trip. When we arrive in Odeleite around 15.00 hours, we do some shopping and get ready for a small beer. Everything is ordered, and I walk outside, when I see a dog approaching, slightly weary, but she hangs around and does not run off. I ask the owner if he knows the dog, and he says that it is not a dog from here, the dog has been abandoned in the village early in the week. The dogfood come out again, and I sit down on the pavement, show her the food, and she comes immediately, wagging her tail. She is wearing an old sort of home made collar out of a piece of plastic and a piece of chain, it is pretty tight around her neck, but not grown in. She seems very young, and in fairly good shape, apart from being underweight. We put a lead on her collar and she is being lifted into the back of the car..quite happily she sits in the back of the car. The owner of the cafe is happy that we offer to take and help her, and off we go again, with yet again an abandoned dog in the car…another Serra de Estrela…a female this time.

She travels really well in the car, and she accompanies us on the rest of our journey, into Castro Marim, Tavira, and Moncarapacho. This last stop is where I call our vets once again, and one of them is absolutely overloaded. Which I actually knew, as I found a large podenco male earlier this week, which I managed to catch and brought into this clinic. So I try the other clinic again, where after some talk she can stay until tomorrow. I am already happy with this outcome, and we set off for Almancil. Upon arrival, we have to wait a little while and the newly found dog is very happy to be around people. When we go in for the check up and the bloodtesting she is all over us, and can not believe her luck, and wags her tail continuously. She seems to be a young dog, she is not fully grown, and looking at her teeth, we think she is around 9 – 10 months, and put her date of birth on 1 February 2011. She is skinny, but not terribly. She tests negative for leish and heartworm. The only issue I have with her, is her backlegs, the way she stands, could indicate hipdisplaesia, a manual test confirms my thoughts, there is too much space in her joint, however, she has no signs of pain when there is the manual testing to her hips and legs. She is named Lavinia and will stay overnight at the vet. If all is well she will be spayed tomorrow…

https://picasaweb.google.com/villazwerfhondopvanghonden/Lavinia02#

Two dogs in one day, actually two dogs in less than 12 hours, and more amazingly, both are Serra de Estrela´s…wagging their tails continuously. It has been a busy week, with this week in total three dogs, which I found on the road on my path wherever I was heading.
Am I dog magnet. No I am not, the last dog I picked up was in April 2011, that was Eva, the pregnant Vale de Eguas female…. However it seems to be the time of year where people en masse abandon their dogs… Please realise that dogs are for life, not for Christmas…

Monday 14th November, 2011

Today I took both Lavinia & Kwispel to the vet for a check up. Kwispel doesn’t seem to be gaining any weight, despite all the efforts. Because of his awful physical condition he was first fed with low protein food, when his body did not seem to absorb any of the much needed nutrients, he was put on salmon & rice. When Kwispel was found on 04/11/2011 he weighed 27.8 kg, today he weighed in at 30 kilo’s, to my utter but foremost pleasant surprise. The vet was actually quite pleased with the way he is looking now, his hair is already growing back, his gum is still too pale, but not as pale when he was brought in. Hopefully he will keep up the good spirits he is in helping him on his journey ahead to a full recovery. Looking at him now, you start to realize how underweight he truly is, it is because of his hair that he looks fairly ok, but if you touch him, you realize how malnourished he is. He should weigh around 45/50 kilos when he is back to normal shape & form again..Despite his condition, he is a wonderful dog, so friendly to both people & dogs. He is a true gentle giant, who out of affection will put his mouth gently around your hand, afraid of being left again…
Who has ever allowed him to be in this atrocious state in the first place..this person should be treated the same way… I have no words for this..

Lavinia is doing so well, and has the most affectionate & gentle personality one can only imagine. She is another true gentle giant, & loves people and other dogs.. When Lavinia was found, she weighed in at 24 kilo’s, she was skinny and lost… Today she weighed just over 28 kilo’s and is in a much better overall condition. Lavinia walks off lead since day one, she is very people oriented and knew her name since day 1, and comes back immediately when called….she just loves to be with her ‘people’.  She is an amazing social and stable dog, who would fit in a family situation perfectly. She has slight indication of hipdisplaesia, which is quite common in dogs her size, with proper walking & exercising the build up of muscles on her backlegs, should allow her to grow old without problems and pain. Walking stairs f.e. should be avoided at all times..

Update March 1, 2012:

While we still believe that these photos and atrocities took place at the Leiria Municipal Camara, as our volunteer discovered and is explained in our update January 21, 2012, the situation has improved so that we do not believe such atrocities are any longer occuring at this municpal camara. 

The following reply was received from Raul Castro, President of the Leiria Municipal Camara:

De: Raul Castro
Data: 2 de Fevereiro de 2012 17:15
Assunto: Esclarecimento da Câmara Municipal de Leiria sobre alegados maus tratos no canil
Para:

Exmo.(a). Sr.(a),

Confirmamos a receção do seu email, que nos mereceu a melhor atenção. No entanto, o seu teor revela um total desconhecimento sobre o funcionamento do Centro de Recolha Oficial (canil municipal). Nesse sentido, convidamos todos os cidadãos preocupados com o bem-estar dos animais a visitar o nosso canil, sem qualquer marcação prévia, para que possam verificar que a realidade é muito diferente da que relatam.
Constatámos que algumas imagens enviadas em anexo não foram tiradas no Centro de Recolha Oficial (CRO) de Leiria e que as que efectivamente dizem respeito àquele espaço já são antigas. Independentemente disso, a Câmara Municipal de Leiria está disponível para esclarecer todas as dúvidas que as mesmas possam suscitar.
Importa ainda acrescentar que, como já tivemos oportunidade de explicar publicamente, o CRO tem sido visitado regularmente por diversas entidades oficiais, que confirmaram que os animais que ali se encontram são bem tratados, como comprovam os excertos dos relatórios que se seguem, resultantes de quatro vistorias às instalações do canil:
1. A primeira, em 14/03/2011, levada a cabo pela Direção de Serviços Veterinários da Região Centro – Divisão de Intervenção Veterinária de Leiria, concluiu que “(…) os canis apresentam-se limpos e os animais em bom estado geral, sem vestígios de maus tratos. (…) O MVM [Médico Veterinário Municipal] afirma (…) que a eutanásia é efetuada de acordo com as normas em vigor.”, cfr. relatório remetido via email pela Direção-Geral de Veterinária (DGV).
2. A segunda, em 18/03/2011, resulta de uma visita de controlo ao CRO, efetuada pela Direção de Serviços de Saúde e Protecção Animação da Direção-Geral de Veterinária que conclui em suma: “(…) que todos os animais presentes se apresentavam em boa condição corporal com vitalidade e vivacidade, não havendo sinais de quaisquer maus tratos. Mais verificámos que, apesar de os tratadores não terem formação específica, um deles tem formação académica como auxiliar de veterinária e revela empenhamento no desempenho da sua função.”
3. A terceira vistoria foi realizada em 31/03/2011, pelo Serviço de Protecção da Natureza e do Ambiente (SEPNA) da GNR, através do Núcleo de Protecção Ambiental do Destacamento Territorial de Leiria, que constatou: ”(…) não foi detetado qualquer animal que tivesse sido alvo de maus tratos (…). (…) os animais presentes apresentavam boa condição corporal, não sendo visíveis quaisquer sinais de maus tratos”.
4. A quarta vistoria foi realizada a 27/12/2011, novamente pela Direção dos Serviços de Veterinária da Região Centro, que constatou que “(…) no geral, não se confirmaram situações idênticas às verificadas nas fotos que recebemos.”
Com o intuito de esclarecer a opinião pública foi ainda realizada uma conferência de imprensa, em 27/03/2011, e disponibilizada informação na página eletrónica do Município de Leiria.
Esperamos que a Câmara Municipal de Leiria tenha conseguido esclarecê-lo(a). Reiteramos, contudo, o convite para que se desloque às instalações do nosso Centro de Recolha Oficial, quando assim o entender, de segunda a sexta-feira das 9h00 às 12h00 e das 13h30 às 15h00, para que possa verificar in loco que as acusações de que o Município de Leiria tem sido alvo em relação a esta matéria são totalmente falsas e infundadas.
Ao dispor para esclarecimentos adicionais, apresentamos os nossos melhores cumprimentos,
Raul Castro
Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Leiria

Update January 21, 2012:

We were informed that the animal rights group addressing the situation with the Camara de Leiria is the Parti do Animais Natureza (PAN), whom we believe is politically active versus involved with individual animal care.  This information comes from a reliable source, but although PAN was contacted as yet there is no reply.  Their website is http://www.partidoanimaisnatureza.com/ 

We have also been in contact with the original sender of the email and photographs.  She is solely an individual, whether she took these photos or they were sent to her is unknown.  No further information was forthcoming.  We and other persons have emailed SEPNA, the GNR, the Leiria council, camara etc.

Most importantly, we have also been in contact with another individual living in the Leiria area. A foreigner herself, and a lover of animals, and having previously worked as a volunteer with another animal group, she contacted us via one of the organizations abroad who received and posted our email.  Of tremendous assistance, she has been making inquiries and finding out all that she is able. 

She recently visited the camara and will soon pay another visit.  Whatever took place there has been cleaned up.   It was a sad situation, but it was not as the photos of December 25 portrayed.  There were some dogs, mainly puppies.   Everyone had water and full bowls of food.   They seemed to be ok, the cats will hopefully be seen on a later visit.

Sadly, we do not know where these photos originated and can find out no more information.  We offered assistance but that offer received no reply.  As we have been unable to confirm what exactly was happening in the photographs and email, we can only confirm what the current situation was on a visit to the Leiria Camara.   We hope that either there was enough of an outcry that the situation was immediately addressed, stopped, and is to a certain extent now being hushed over.  Or, alternatively, the photographs were misconstrued….

Having said this, the situation in Portugal is often atrocious.  Being ex-pats in this country we know that often we see things which, had we been in our home countries, we would never have accepted as humane or acceptable treatment of animals.  If you are living in Portugal or a country like Portugal please continue to value the standards of animal welfare as they should be, and remember that they are also God’s creatures and dependent upon us to protect them.  Working with animals in a country where animals are treated as things, with little to no rights, is often heart-breaking,   the problems are often insurmountable, but it does not mean you should not keep trying.  To everyone who helps or cares for animals, even just your own animal, please remember all each animal deserves is a chance and some love.  They have no voice, it is we who must protect and provide for them. 

So give your own animals a special cuddle, and remember that without you they would be alone, without protection, - and just perhaps we can try and save one more.

Laura and Ginie

Update January 7, 2012:

We have been informed that there are animal welfare groups who are on scene and in discussions with the parties involved.  We await confirmation and an answer to know more.  We hope to soon begin the circulation of a petition.  The newspapers have also been provided the story and all details as provided to us.

The following is the address of the Camara Muncipal de Leiria

President Miguel Raoul Castro, Camara Municipal de Leiria, Republic Square, 2414-006 Leiria

Tel: +351 244 839 500

Email: cmleiria@cm-leiria.pt

The following are other useful contacts:

geral@gov-civil-leiria.pt

sepna@gnr.pt (branch of Portuguese GNR/police charged with animal welfare)

The following link provides the details of some of the persons in charge and who were approached in the protest email:

http://www.cm-leiria.pt/PageGen.aspx?WMCM_PaginaId=27511

The following link provides details of Portuguese Animal Law.  Currently, an animal under Portuguese law (not EC law) has no legal rights.  Legislation is being pusthed through (with tremendous support by PRAVI ) to change the status of an animal under Portuguese law so that they too have rights, which is more in keeping with standards of EC law.  Nonethelss, even under Portuguese law, no animal is to be subject to evitable pain or suffering.

http://www.animallaw.info/nonus/statutes/stpt92_95_en.htm 

Information January 5, 2012:

Email Sent December 22, 2011.  All names and contacts currently omitted as we try to gain more information. 

The website of the Camara Municipal de Leira is http://www.cm-leiria.pt/PageGen.aspx?WMCM_PaginaId=27511

Photographs attached to this email are available here

Exmos Senhores(as):

Tomei a iniciativa de escrever este mail para mostrar a minha
indignação, VÓMITO e revolta sobre o que se tem vindo a passar no
Canil de Leiria.

As imagens que vi, deixaram-me boquiaberta, arrepiada, ENOJADA!

Sei que o nosso país não é o melhor exemplo de como tratar animais de
companhia, mas há certos aspectos que considero fora de qualquer
parâmetro normal, como sendo o que estas imagens abjectas mostram:

Deixar um animal preso por um cadeado, não me parece nem de longe a
melhor solução, mas deixá-lo ficar preso até morrer à fome sem poder
sequer, ter a possibilidade de lutar ou procurar comida é  digno de
“tratamento” NAZI!

Não lhes dar qualquer tipo de tratamento veterinário, mesmo sabendo
que podem precisar, já para não aprofundar o assunto do abate de
animais em canis municipais…
PARA QUE SERVEM AFINAL OS VETS MUNICIPAIS??

Alguns destes animais eram de raça, jovens e saudáveis quando entraram
no canil… e agora? AGORA SÃO CADÁVERES!

As imagens dizem tudo.
Não se trata apenas de leis, falta de verbas ou condições, trata-se de
NEGLIGÊNCIA e VERDADEIRA MALDADE de quem trabalha neste sitio que mais
parece UM CAMPO DE CONCENTRAÇÃO!, e deixa os animais chegar a este
estado deplorável e desumano…
QUE TIPO DE GENTALHA ALI TRABALHA E QUE É PAGA COM DINHEIRO PÚBLICO??

Isto não é só uma vergonha para Leiria mas também para o nosso mísero país.

Espero sinceramente alguma sensibilidade de V. Exas para resolver esta
situação repugnante e espero que no dia de Natal se lembrem destas
imagens pois certamente serão suficientes e chocantes para estragar o
Natal aos mais sensíveis, se é que existem…
Melhores cumprimentos,

Last summer, well known celebrity Rita Egidio and husband Luis Viola, also known as Ricardo, happily adopted two dogs from us after meeting them at the Algarve Dog Show.  The dogs were Dina and Eddie and, after completing the adoption process, Rita, Luis, and their three children happily took the dogs to their new home and life.  We followed up and everything was going well.  But sickeningly, only a few months later, the family left the Algarve and abandoned their dogs!  They left both Dina and Eddie with no food, no water, gates open… goodbye!  Thanks for the last few months but we cannot be even bothered to call anyone on your behalf.  Thankfully, we managed to get them back, and they are both ok if somewhat traumatized and underweight.  But we ask what excuse is possible for this behaviour and, as celebrities, what values are they teaching not only the public but also their children! 

The first three photos are of the family when they met Eddie and Dinah at the dog show.

Then there are the photos of poor Eddie and Dina after a week abandoned, taken the morning after they came back to us.  We only found out about the situation becuase the landlord came to close the house.

Eddie and Dina are again safe under our care and available for adoption.  Below follows a letter sent to Ms. Edigio and Mr. Viola on February 7, 2012.  No reply has yet been received. 

Please spread the word as these people should never be allowed to adopt an animal again, and such behaviour should not go without consequence.

Sent February 7, 2012 (Original Version – Portuguese Translation Follows)

———————————————————————–

Excelentissimos Sr.Luis Viola e Sra Rita Egidio

Conhecemo-nos, a si, o seu marido e os seus três filhos na Feira “Scruffts”, cão do ano show, que teve lugar em Lagoa dia 17 de Setembro de 2011, no recinto da Fatacil. No evento os senhores mostraram se interessados em adoptar dois cães da SosAlgarveAnimals e aparentaram ser uma família muito simpática, responsável e com o amor e estabilidade que os dois cães necessitavam ter. Estes dois cães eram o Eddie e a Dina (Tambem conhecida como Bianca), na altura levaram nos a dar um passeio pelo recinto para os conhecerem melhor e os senhores e os seus filhos gostaram bastante dos dois cães, pelo que os reservamos para vocês para uma adopção numa data mais tardia. Não permitimos que os levassem de imediato convosco, pois não concordamos na adopção imediata de um animal e achamos que essa é uma decisão que deve ser muito bem pensada e ponderada não um impulso do momento! Com  o vosso acordo, no dia 19 de Setembro de 2011 os senhores dirigiram se à clínica veterinária com que normalmente trabalhamos e levamos os nossos animais para assinarem um termo de responsabilidade  e passarmos o Eddie e a Dina, ambos chipados, para vosso nome.O Veterinário esteve bastante tempo convosco e explicou vos todos os cuidados a ter com um animal em Portugal. O Eddie e a Dina estavam na altura bastante saudáveis, felizes e em forma!

A seguir à adopção falamos convosco, e apesar de bastante ocupados e com alguns problemas familiares todos pareciam contentes com ambos os cães !

A 19 de Setembro, a adopção foi feita oficialmente. Como consta no nosso contrato, estas adopções são para a vida, mas se por motivos pessoais ou emergências inesperadas os adoptantes não conseguirem mais manter os animais exigimos  que estes nos sejam devolvidos e fiquem de novo aos nossos cuidados, para evitar que os animais acabem enfiados em canis ou até mesmo nas ruas não se sabendo os seus destinos, e logo de inicio ficou bem claro que assim gostávamos que fosse caso houvesse algum problema! Na altura parecerem nos a família com o perfil mais adequado para darem uma boa qualidade de vida a ambos os cães e até rejeitámos outras duas encantadoras famílias que também se mostraram interessadas no eddie e na dina.

No passado sábado, 28 de Janeiro, recebemos uma chamada duma senhora que se apresentou como vossa senhoria . Foi nos contada uma história  um pouco mal explicada, mas que aparentemente os cães foram abandonados por si e a sua família sem comida, o portão de casa completamente aberto durante quase uma semana, isto tudo antes de sequer enviarem um e-mail  à senhoria a explicar que tinham sido deixados para trás dois cães. Nós acreditamos que esta senhora estava de visita ao algarve e só teve conhecimento, felizmente, dos cães porque finalmente os senhores” lembraram se” de enviar um e-mail para a mesma dizendo que deixaram a casa e juntamente com ela os vossos dois cães!!

Portanto, esta senhora que estava de partida para Lisboa, urgentemente trouxe nos os cães de volta eram cerca das 22h no Sábado à noite. Foi nos nos trazido também toda a papelada. E nisto havia um terceiro boletim de vacinas de um cão nascido em 2009, onde está esse cão??

O Eddie e a Dina estavam visivelmente mal nutridos  e só Deus sabe de que se alimentaram aqueles pobres animais durante o tempo que acreditamos eles terem ficado por sua conta!!  

Não recebemos absolutamente nenhum contacto, chamada, e-mail, nada,  acerca de toda esta situação! E os senhores tinham todos os nossos números de telefone incluído o do veterinário!

Simplesmente os abandonaram sem qualquer coração!! Nem uma chamada telefónica se deram ao trabalho de fazer! Os animais não têm ninguém que os protega, a não ser as pessoas que supostamente mais carinho têm por eles! Vocês adoptaram dois dos cães mais meigos que tínhamos e simplesmente traíram qualquer tipo de carinho e confiança que estes animais criaram por vocês!

Achamos a vossa atitude desprezível!

Qual a vossa desculpa? Qual a razão? Que lição devem os vossos filhos aprender com isto? Tirando o facto que uma adopção é PARA A VIDA, a maneira como lidaram com esta situação é incompreensível!  Onde estão os vossos valores? Como figura pública neste país deviam ser um exemplo para melhorar as condições em que os animais do nosso país vivem!

Em anexo envio as fotos do Eddie e da Dina depois do regresso até nós !! Deplorável!

Cumprimentos

Laura McGeoch

www.sosalgarveanimals.com

Diego is a wonderful dog who has thankfully, luckily, and finally found a new home.  This is his third new home, and we truly believe it is third time perfect.  Which he definitely deserves.

The family who has adopted Diego are truly lovely people.  They have no other animals, but a large female dog who often comes for overnight sleepovers who is very friendly and will make a great sometimes playmate for Diego.   They have a large fenced garden and they love Diego.  When they took Diego home on Saturday Diego jumped into the front seat of their car, as fast as could be, never even looking back.  As if to say thank you very much this is my chance now forever.  Good bye!

Diego was found on the road side on the way up to Goldra almost two years ago, in February 2010.  I found him myself, and it was just after the announcement that Goldra was to close.  So I was going to Goldra to see what could be done to help, and another new dog was absolutely the last thing anyone needed.  This is Diego when I found him:

Anyways, going up the road Diego was there and he looked to be in terrible condition and starving.  He had wounds and bites all over his body.  I left some food for him to eat, but could not pick him up, had nowhere to even put him, and there was no way he was going to be able to fit into the car I was driving (which – since 2010 has since been replaced by a very large jeep – much more sensible!).  So I parked my car, my lift arrived to take me up the bumpy roads to Goldra, and I sadly left him.

But Diego knew he was onto a sure thing, and when I got back down the road from Goldra he was lying at the car!  Nooooooooooo……… So I asked the friend driving me and she took Diego down to the vets, and so it all began.

Diego was always extremely friendly, lovely and obedient.  It took a long time to get him healthy.  He had a puncture in his leg that was infected and needed a drain.  He was malnourished and just in general terrible condition.  We even believe that from his scars he had been used as bait in dog fighting. 

I kept Diego as my foster dog.  I did not quite trust him with my other dogs, although very sweet with me, given his suspected background I did not want to take any risks.  I also had to keep my cats safely away from Diego,  as whenever he saw them he acted very clearly as if he would love nothing more than to eat them.  So it was not the easiest foster I have ever had. 

But we persevered and Diego deserved his chance.   And a home was found!  A lovely lady in the far North West Algarve who knew Diego’s breed and he was exactly what she was looking for.  I drove Diego almost two hours to visit and it seemed like it was going to be a very good fit.  Diego still had to be neutered, so we arranged that we would first do this and then two weeks later Diego would go to his new home.

Very unfortunately…. Once Diego was ready for adoption this lady had also adopted two pigs…… now Diego is a possible mix of dogo argentino or other similar type, and these dogs are not going to be friendly with pigs.  In fact, dogo argentinos were bred to hunt wild boar.  So…… two weeks later we received the phone call.  Diego would not leave the pigs alone and had to go as his only other option was to be chained up or confined with very little freedom and this was not something we wanted for Diego.

This time, Diego went back to the pet hotel to stay until another home could be found.  And it was, with a lovely English family who had moved here, no other animals, a big fenced garden, children to play with (Diego is excellent with children).  And it all seemed perfect.  A house control was performed, Diego was taken to his new home, visited one month later and everything seemed great.  Except…. that on a later follow up the family’s phone was disconnected.  So I drove out there and there was no family and no Diego.  A neighbour said the family had left in a tremendous hurry and he thought the dog had been left on the street.  We were astounded how uncaring and terrible it was for them to have done this.  There was no reason, they knew that we would have definitely taken Diego back at any time.

Very luckily, we found Diego through his microchip registration.  He had been living on the streets for two months.  An animal lover had been trying to care for Diego and had even taken him to the vet, but until we knew what was happening, and so re-registered Diego to our name, there had only been the unworking phone number on the registration.

So Diego again came back.  We retested him for leish and heartworm and treated him for tickfever.   And Diego moved again back into the hotel.  Eventually, Diego came to live with the rest of our dogs in our rented location.  But unfortunately, Diego is not a good pack dog.  He likes to be in charge and is best as an only dog or in a small group.   He is also not good with small animals, dogs or cats, and so it was not possible for us to keep him and it seemed that no one was interested in adopting Diego.

We had a long discussion about his situation and decided to publicize his story in the hopes of finding him a home.  We would wait one or two months doing everything we could.  If no home was found in that time, and without anywhere else to keep him, he would then have to be put to sleep.

Sadly, no one answered the appeal for Diego and the two months deadline arrived.  But… the owners from the hotel had grown very close to Diego, so they called us and offered Diego a permanent place at the hotel. 

And now…. Just recently…. Out of the blue this lovely family saw his photo and that was it, love at first sight and hopefully definitely forever.  The family knows Deigo’s story and there is absolutely no way that they would ever abandon Diego, and if ever anything happens that they cannot control Diego will be brought back into our care. 

We will soon go for a house control and visit and then have more news and photos.

Good luck Diego.

Author Unknown