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:
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,