Author Unknown

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,

Portugal At Its Worst – January 5th, 2011
There is an atrocious and inhumane situation of cruelty and abuse at the camara in Leiria, 100 km north of Lisbon, where they are controlling the animal population by starving to death the animals under their care and protection. They are locked in cages or kennels and left to rot. Photographed on or about December 22, 2011, they are skin and bone, mothers trying to revive starved puppies, kittens, puppies, dogs, cats in every photo dead, piled up, from what can only be starvation. This has come to our attention via email and by a person who has been able to photograph what they saw. (Typically, if you try, you will be stopped from entering municpal kennels if you have a camera with you or try to take photos). In this situation someone has managed… and now there is evidence of this animal abuse at the hands of the Portuguese government that can be made public …and it must stop. We will do all that we can to help, we have chosen to immediately publicize the information that we have received in the hope that that there is enough of an outcry that the animals can be saved and the people invovled have to face the consequences. Please also publicize this story and these photos and where this is occuring as much as you are able. Portugal is part of the European Community where legislation is at hand but not implemented. It is at the camara of Leiria where this is occuring, and so it is under the control and responsibility of government appointed officials that these poor animals are having to endure such atrocities. We will do all that we can to help and to publicize any more information that we receive. Please click here for the photographs. A copy of the email we received is available at the “Portugal At Its Worst – Updates” under stories.

2011 once again has been a year with a lot of unfortunate animals needing help. Again we have been able to find many loving and happy homes for the unwanted and abandoned animals of the Algarve. The volunteers of SOSAA have put in a lot of time and energy in helping these animals finding their ways into their forever loving homes, whether it concerned, dogs, cats, puppies or kittens.

It is not easy. Honestly, we just keep going, day after day, animals come in and it sometimes heartbreaking to see them arrive in such sad condition, we help them to get better if we can, we assess their characters and start looking for homes, matching the animals characteristics and requirement, and our animals do find homes – which for every animal is always a celebration, for all parties involved, for us, the animal and the new family. We do this full time, about 12 hour per day, six days a week, with volunteers and others helping whenever and however they can. 

Our work is with the animals, rehabilitating, learning their nature, caring for them daily and getting them healthy. A lot of the work involves behind the scenes, i.e. telephone calls, and a lot of paper and computer work. On-line for example - the internet is a tremendous facility for posting information about our animals and what it is we are doing and trying to achieve. We have many good ideas for 2012 and how to change our website so that it will provide more information. Other behind the scenes activities are the flight travel arrangements, contacting the flight parents, preparing the animals and their paperwork for travel, organizing the dogs in foster situations to be at the meeting point, it is what we do best: organizing, organizing and some more organizing. And then, despite being organized, we even sometimes feel a bit disorganized.

Actually, for every animal we manage to find a home there are at least another 10 about whom we are contacted for help at the same time. The problem of unwanted and abandoned animals in Portugal is enormous.

We absolutely do not accept every and/or any home here in Portugal. We must like every new owner. There is always a good or a bad feeling that you get when you first meet the new owner and family. Often, the contact starts by email or phone, which gives us an indication of whether their requirements match the animal that they like and what he or she has to offer. We do ask for as much information as we possibly can from the family about the type of dog (or cat) they are looking for. If they are interested in adopting a puppy (or kitten) we ask about what they are looking for in an adult….

Despite the fact that puppies and kittens soon grow up, we do not rehome any dog or cat, puppy or kitten if we feel it is not the correct fit. We want both our dogs and the new families to live happily ever after. Sometimes the potential adoptants have chosen a dog based upon its photos and description, sometimes we agree and sometimes we will make another suggestion, because the characteristics of the animal involved does not meet the requirements people may have and expect.

The same is true for homes abroad. We do not send animals direct to individuals abroad. With the exception of when a family has met and found an animal here in Portugal (as often families have found a rescue while here on holiday, and wish to take him or her home with them). In such cases, we will care for the animal until he or she can travel but, again, we will only send the animal if we feel it is the correct fit and in the best interest of the animal

The animals who do travel abroad (Germany, Holland, sometimes Switzerland and Austria) are going into the care of other organizations who also work very hard to find new homes. All these organizations are not for profit and also run primarily by dedicated and committed volunteers. They do this work solely because they are animal lovers, they know of the plight of animals in countries like Portugal, and they see a way to bring happiness to our animals and help them reach the type of homes they deserve.

They work very similarly to how we work, by house controlling, meeting families, and making sure it is a correct fit between animal and owner. Sometimes the new family has been found before the animal arrives, and then the new family and representative of the organization are waiting to take their new arrival straight home from the airport. Othertimes there is no new permanent home, but a loving foster home waiting at the airport who will look after the animal until a permanent home is found. We do not send to shelters abroad – all animals travelling abroad go to families.

Our contacts come from regular adverts in the newspapers, from our website, and from word of mouth. We do need these loving homes tremendously but we are never in a rush and rehome animals at any cost. We want the families to be absolutely certain they are ready and want their new animal. All new families must sign a contract. All our animals rehomed must be returned to us in case of any change in circumstances and/or problems, they are not to again be rehomed to a third party without our being contacted so as we can oversee what is best for the animal. In case of problems, we do offer help with fitting in your rescue animal into you (family)life. All our adult animals are sterilized, and all our puppies and kittens, who are too young on the day of their adoption, must be sterilized when they are old enough. We house control as many new homes and families as we are able (but are always looking for more volunteers to help us with this?)

Our dogs are now staying in our rehoming facility, where we can house between twenty and thirty adults. Puppies, kittens and cats are still and will remain with our dedicated and committed team of foster families. We have many good foster families, who often help us out even when their last lot of puppies have just left for their new homes. Thank you so very much to Laura C, Peta & family, Arlene & family and Grace – your work is extremely special and we could not have helped all these animals get to their new homes without your help. And also to our dedicated and wonderful vets and their assistants, for their continuing support and kindness.

Summary 2011: Total Animals Rehomed = 448
Dogs Rehomed = 130 (82 abroad, 48 in Portugal)
Puppies Rehomed = 188 (124 abroad, 64 in Portugal)
Cats Rehomed = 38 (19 abroad, 19 in Portugal)
Kittens Rehomed = 92 (56 abroad, 36 in Portugal)

Summary 2010: Total Animals Rehomed = 333
Dogs Rehomed = 155 (110 abroad, 45 in Portugal)
Puppies Rehomed = 155 (126 abroad, 29 in Portugal)
Cats Rehomed = 2 (both in Portugal)
Kittens Rehomed = 21 (2 in Portugal, 19 abroad)

*Much of the rehoming efforts in 2010 involved animals from “Quintinha dos Animais – Goldra”, a local shelter that was scheduled to close. This cause led to SOSAA’s greater involvement in rehoming and the animal welfare community as a whole.

Please see Happy Homes for names and descriptions of each of these lucky animals, as well as many photos of them in their new homes.

Our very much beloved Tonio has found a wonderful home! After almost one year, it is simply incredible. We never thought it would happen, although he was available for adoption, given his age and that he does not have the appearance that most people are looking for, Tonio we planned on having possibly forever so we asked for help with his care by sponsorship and by virtual adoption. But Tonio has wonderfully found far better than what we could ever offer him, an amazing new Daddy, who called totally out of the blue, with a soft spot and heart for older dogs.

Tonio we “inherited”, he was (sadly) never a dog we actually choose. Instead, Tonio made his own mind up about how to be rescued. Tonio comes from the Canil Sao Francisco do Assis, and he was living in an outdoor pen with our other reserved dogs. He was kept by us only because no one at the canil was able to catch him to move him! And, once we got to know Tonio and his personality, we simply did not have the heart to pass him by. Ever since we started to care for Tonio he has always been extra easy to catch, always coming up for a cuddle. Even then Tonio knew exactly what he wanted, he saw his opportunity and he took it. Here his Tonio when we first saw him:

We are happy and sad at the same time…when a dog is with you for such a long time, and in Tonio’s case, he was rather obsessed with Ginie…it is kind of shocking when the perfect home comes by….

Tonio’s new family met him and it was love at first sight. His daddy took him for a walk on the beach to meet a playmate (a 10 year old sharpei, and they will often be going for walks together), and everything went tremendously well. Ginie dropped him off later that evening….and Tonio has the choice of 6 lovely dogbeds on every floor, the garden is adjacant to the walk to the beach…he is allowed everywhere except in the bed… On Tonio’s first night of his new life the fireplace will be burning, & his new family are celebrating the arrival of Tonio…

Ginie watched Tonio exploring the house, his new home, he could not believe his luck….coming back to Ginie for some reassurance, & when reassured, happily exploring further…

We are so happy this has happened, as many of you know these older dogs are very close to our hearts…& it is them who deserve a loving home more than anything as far as we are concerned, but often they are also the hardest to find homes for…

On behalf of Tonio we would like to thank all of you who have contributed to his wellbeing as a virtual adoption dog, or to all of you who have actively been involved in trying to find him a loving forever home…. Thanks to all of you, this adoption is our Christmas present this year…

Tonio is 7 years old. He spent 11 months under our care and as a dog both available for adoption and virtual adoption. Before he came into our care we suspect he spent many many years at the Canil. He is very open, friendly, stable natured, extremely good with other dogs, and as many of his photos show very playful. While we can care for the dogs well, it is never the same as a dog having a family of his or her own, being a family pet with a soft bed to lie in at night (or in Tonio’s case many soft beds to choose from). While with us Tonio was neutered and tested negative for leish. Initially he had microfiliaria (initial stage heartworm) which we treated and was cured. He had an ear infection earlier in his life that did not receive treatment, although this is now healed (and he is not deaf) his right ear has curled up and is slightly malformed. He is extremely affectionate, easy going, an absolutely wonderful character whom we, and all the other dogs, simply adore.

If you are interested in adopting an older dog or in sponsoring dogs like Tonio by virtual adoption please contact us at any time.

Photos of Tonio in his new life will be taken on a later visit. (Sorry, the camera was forgotten)!

Good luck Tonio, Merry Chirstmas, and may you and your new family have many happy new years together.

Sadly, not only in Portugal, but in many other countries Christmas is a time of worry and concern for those of us helping rescue dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. Please do not give an animal as a surprise (and most often unwanted) Christmas present. A dog, puppy, cat or kitten is a life long responsibility. While they may look very cute with a bow tied around their neck, they are also a lot of work and responsibility. Many animals are abandoned to shelters or onto the streets shortly after the Christmas period. SOS Algarve Animals will only adopt an animal during the month of December when the whole family is present, meets the animal, and makes the decision together to commit to the care of the animal for his or her life.

By Ginie on Monday September 12, 2011.

On Friday I received the devastating news that Tarna has tested positive for leishmaniose. I was already really afraid on this, you know, it is one of these things your intuition tells you.. She was tested in April and the result came back negative with the advise to retest in 2-4 months. Tarna went onto the tickfevers treatment, and seemed to be doing well.. In July after a thorough bath, her coat and skin seemed to recover. However, in August she started losing lots and lots of hairs again, her skin went really dry and bad again, and she started limping, first it appeared to be a cut in one of her pads, but after this healed she still limped. End of August I took her to Carlos for a checkup and a bloodtest. Her joints in her frontlegs were affected by arthritis, her toenails started to harden one by one. So blood was taken for the retesting of Leishmaniose.
 
This morning I took Tarna to Carlos, and she died in my arms. Some of you will probably think, why not put her on the allopurinol and/or glucantime treatment. Well, I did think about that on Friday, when I drove into Faro crying my eyes out…but I can’t justify this for myself. I have enough space in my heart to have done so, but I don;t have enough space in my house, and my group of rescue dogs. If we would have had enough space, yes probably I would have done so, or maybe not… Leishmaniose can be controlled, but never healed/cured. It is a horrible disease….
 
Tarna had some really happy months, since I rescued her with her litter of puppy’s. Tarna is one of the first mums I found at Sao Francisco who had to give birth in a pack of dogs…It was pouring down with rain that morning, and she had hidden the puppy’s to the best of her ability and was protecting them from the rest of the group… She had many puppy’s, we kept two, Tessa & Timo, who have been rehomed abroad, and Tarna went into the reserved pen in Sao Francisco, and then on to our warehouse, with all the other rescued dogs.
 
Tarna will be greatly missed, by me, but also by our pack of dogs, she was one of the most stable characters in there, receiving a lot of respect from all the others….
 
When we  will get our own place, I will plant/design a Memory Lane…where the plants/trees will be named after our dogs who are no longer with us…
There have many dogs we have had to say goodbye to….but those also will never be forgotten….
 
Tarna, please rest in peace, and join your and our other friends over the Rainbow Bridge……

Tarna was 7 years old.  She was found by Ginie one morning in January in the Canil Sao Francisco after having given birth to a litter of puppies in an outdoor pen with about 15 other adult dogs.  Having speant much of the night protecting her puppies by placing them in a tree stump and curling around them it was an absolutely heartwrenching and devasting scene.  Ginie rescued and moved Tarna and puppies, and two of the puppies were kept (Tessa and Timo), the rest were put to sleep.  Tessa and Timo were rehomed to Holland, and Tarna became one of the dogs under our care.   We only had Tarna for a short time and were unable to give her the life she deserved, but we know that because of our help she at least had a little happiness in that time.

On July 12 and with heavy hearts we withdrew all help by SOS Algarve Animals to the Canil Sao Francisco do Assis. We have moved all dogs with whom we were working to temporary placements. The kittens from the canil with whom we were working are already in foster families and SOSAA will continue to work towards finding homes for all of these animals. We are unable to work with any new dogs, puppies, cats or kittens at CSFA. We will continue to work with other animals of the Algarve who need homes. From December, 2010 until July, 2011, we have found homes for approximately 200 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens from the Canil, as well as homes for the other animals with whom we work. Our decision was made due to our belief that the care, health and safety of the dogs at the Canil with whom we were working was being put at risk by the Canil’s actions. We notified the canil of our complaint, and requested a meeting so that a solution could be reached. No such meeting was arranged nor any other efforts to reach a solution made. We are in the process of outlying our decision and experiences in more detail. We will return to help the animals of the canil if a solution can be reached and only upon request of the Board of the Canil.

Unfortunately, without SOSAA’s presence at the canil our support for theSOSAA-CSFA sterilization plan has also had to be withdrawn. However, we are going to continue to try to push forward with a similar sterilization plan for animals of the Algarve. This plan is being worked upon with the help of our vets and other supporters, and we hope to seek authorization for a mobile hospital unit that can travel to different shelters to perform sterilizations. As such, we continue to believe in the necessity and importance of providing sterilizations to all abandoned animals of the Algarve. While we currently sponsor the sterilization of as many animals as funds allow in any given month, we will continue to push forward with a way to provide these sterilizations to a greater number of Algarve abandoned animals at the lowest cost possible.

By Ginie:

On Thursday 7 July 2011 I accompanied Patricia, a Dutch volunteer for ADAP to the Canil Municipal Portimao, for their weekly gathering with dog walkers when they take out all the dogs for a walk. The enthusiasm and energy of Patricia has made me curious, after having heard all sorts of horror stories on the Canil in Portimao. I don’t go by rumors, I need to see, feel and experience myself before forming my opinion.

We are  a little late, and all the volunteers are anxiously waiting to take dogs out for a walk. I wonder into the facilities, small, many dogs, but it seems to be nice and clean. There are quite a few in the two larger pens, where the females and males live separated. Around the corner there are some small kennels, where the newly arrived are put in. There are three new arrrivals, rescued from the gypsies. There are three lovely fluffy puppy’s. There is a Rottweiler female, living separated from the rest. The dogs recognize Patricia immediately and are extremely happy and excitedly jumping up and barking – all would like to go out immediately and together. ..unfortunately that is not possible.

One by one they are taken out and taken for their walk and of course treats. I take the big overweight Rottweiler female out for a walk. I have serious candidates for a Rottweiler, but he/she would have to fit into family life, the interested family always have had Rottweilers, so they know this breed well and are experienced.  It takes a little time before she accepts me as her leader, and as soon as she does she changes for the positive. She ignores all the other dogs and commotion, (because she is a Rottweiler) and is very attentive to me, she wants to work for me.   For now, she finds it difficult to concentrate, as she does not get walked very often she is quite interested in all the smells around her.  Unfortunately, on our return, she tried to attack one of the puppies.  Without hesitation and warning she charges, thankfully I am strong and as always on guard, awaiting the unexpected, and nothing happens.

The atmosphere amongst all the people is a positive one. I am invited to join them for a coffee, and quite a few volunteers come along. Amongst the group is Theresa, the President of the Association ADAP.  Patricia is with us, another Dutch lady, a Portuguese lady…all work endlessly for the wellbeing of the dogs in the Canil Portimao. The atmosphere is open, friendly and passionate, we talk about all the aspects of managing a canil. The dogs are neutered upon adoption, vaccinated, microchipped. They work with often long time foster families.  As with all associations and organizations there is never enough money.  We have been donated some medical gear which they would love to have for their first aid kit. I promise them that they are more than welcome to what we have.  We will try and help the animals in the Canil Municipal in Portimao where we can and are able to.

I am invited back, and will definitely return soon, both to join some of the Thursday dog walks, but to also donate what we can.

More photos available at https://picasaweb.google.com/sosalgarveanimals/CanilsPortimao7July2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIGPvpPMk_LQ1QE# or https://picasaweb.google.com/villazwerfhondopvanghonden

By Ginie:

On Saturday 23 July I visited this Canil “Canils Municipal Villa Real/Castro Marim VRSA” in the Algarve, just on the border with Spain.  Julia, Vice President of Guadi, the organization managing the canil for the Camara of Vila Real San Antonio, and two volunteers, Helena and Sandro, welcomed me with open arms. First we spent quite some time talking about the Canil and also on SOS Algarve Animals and our way of working.  After this we visited the shelter where over 200 dogs and approx 150 cats live on the premises of the Camara of Castro Marim. Guadi has achieved quite a lot of positive improvements during the approx. 5 years they are now managing the canil! They have negotiated with the Camara to have access and usage of  9000 m2 of terrain. They have taken the abandoned caravans from the adjacent Camara scrap yard, and are using these as beds/houses for the dogs and cats. An anonymous Dutch lady has raised and donated 4000 euro’s which Guadi has used to purchase fencing materials. The terrain has been laid out practical and has been put to good use. The pens are nice and large, with sometimes 3 dogs in, in others you will find 6 or 7 dogs, sometimes a couple more. The dogs look well fed, and seem happy with what they have.

The buildings in which one finds many large kennels are clean, the kennels are clean, the overall smell is one of good hygiene and freshness. The workers are all very friendly and seem to like working with the dogs, they have been hired through Guadi, paid for by the camara.

 The female dogs are all sterilized, which is an amazingly positive achievement! If there is money, the males are castrated, therefore some of them are indeed castrated, others not yet. All dogs are documented, medical care is given when needed, dogs are vaccinated and de-wormed, also they are all given pulvex on a regular basis. They would have loved to use the scalibor collars, unfortunately they break in play just all too often.        

The wonderful people involved with Guadi have achieved a lot…from the original two pens from the Camara, in which they used to collect more than 20/25 dogs, to a spacious shelter with unfortunately yet another 200 dogs, abandoned by the people living in the Algarve… It is still very sad to see so many unwanted dogs living in a shelter situation, yet another shelter with so many friendly, social dogs and cats.

I meet some wonderful dogs, some of them have been here for years…unbelievable….I would take in a secondhand dog ANY Day…they are truly mans best friend around…unfortunately I already have 5 secondhand canines enriching my life…

Rehoming dogs from the canil is and remains a problem, there are more dogs coming in than going out, which is sad. If and when we can agree with the Guadi organization, we will try and help with some rehoming in the future whenever and wherever we can to the best of our ability. The dogs in the Canils of Vila Real San Antonio deserve a chance as well, the very friendly reception and the openness on the organization Guadi will hopefully be the start of a long term working relationship to help even more of the Algarve animals.

More photos of my visit to VRSA available at https://picasaweb.google.com/sosalgarveanimals/CanilVRSA23July2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCKeU-JGB0b7H3AE# or https://picasaweb.google.com/villazwerfhondopvanghonden