On 5 August, FEDRA (Animal Defence and Rescue Federation) met with the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests), with the main objective of strengthening collaboration between these two entities to promote animal welfare.
Due to Tomorrow’s fundraising partnership with Cadela Carlota, we are interested in animal welfare issues. I contacted FEDRA to ask more questions to understand how hopeful we should be that steps are being made to tackle the animal welfare problem in the Algarve.
I was put in touch with Sofia Róis, the vice president of FEDRA and executive director of Diretora Associação Animais de Rua. I was pleased to learn she is a fellow cat lady! She is currently involved in a project studying the impact of stray cats on the community and biodiversity, as well as another project related to the benefits associated with the presence of pets in the workplace.
Sofia completed her PhD in Biology in 2014 at the University of Lisbon. She has been an assistant professor at Lusófona University since 2009 and a researcher at the School of Life Sciences at Lusófona University. Her research work is closely related to the topic of animal welfare.
Since 2009, she has worked with various animal welfare organisations at national and international levels to manage stray cat colonies. She is a trainer and consultant in the area of animal welfare at the NGO -Associação Animais de Rua, working primarily with local authorities to establish protocols for the implementation of stray animal sterilisation programmes as a measure of population control.
According to the National Census of Stray Animals 2023 carried out by the ICNF, it is estimated that there are 101,015 stray dogs and 830,541 stray cats in mainland Portugal. “These figures are worrying and reflect the complexity of the current situation of homeless animals in the country. The high number of strays emphasises the urgent need for effective measures to control the population and protect these animals,” comments Sofia.
Sofia told me that FEDRA views these figures with great concern, as they highlight a persistent problem that requires a coordinated and multifaceted approach. The existence of more than 930,000 stray animals in Portugal reflects the inadequacy of population control policies and the need for greater awareness and education of guardians. “FEDRA advocates stepping up sterilisation and responsible adoption campaigns, as well as implementing more robust pet identification and registration strategies. In addition, animal welfare policies must be strengthened, with greater oversight and support for the animal welfare associations that are at the forefront of this fight,” she says.
In 2023, the municipalities of the Faro District recorded 3,198 animals (dogs and cats) collected in the district’s municipalities, of which 1,626 were adopted. Sofia tells me, “These figures show that, despite the challenges, there is an ongoing effort to promote responsible adoption and control the stray animal population in the region. However, the collection rate is still higher than the adoption rate, indicating that there is a need to strengthen awareness campaigns and adoption programmes.”
Initiatives to promote the sterilisation of companion animals are essential to reducing the number of stray animals in the region. FEDRA is trying to collaborate with local associations and municipalities to create programmes that encourage sterilisation, not only as a form of population control but also as a public health and animal welfare measure. In addition, adoption fairs and awareness-raising events have been organised in various municipalities to promote responsible adoption and educate the population about the importance of sterilisation and animal identification.
“FEDRA is committed to working together with the ICNF and other relevant organisations to find solutions that can reverse this trend, and guarantee a safer and more dignified future for all animals in Portugal,” concludes Sofia.
Having adopted six dogs and cats during my 20 years in Portugal, I am cautiously optimistic about the strategies for change – but it will still be an uphill battle.
About FEDRA
FEDRA, of which Animais de Rua is a member, arose from the need to create a representative body for the animal welfare sector. FEDRA is made up of Animalife, the Portuguese League for Animal Rights (LPDA), NIRA – Núcleo de Intervenção e Resgate Animal, Animais de Rua, Sociedade Protetora dos Animais (SPA) and Milene Prudente.
FEDRA co-ordinates the respective organisations to help change the Portuguese model with regard to the following:
- Updating and modernising animal legislation
- Raising awareness and making civil society responsible for animal and environmental welfare
- Greater support for animal rights associations
- Greater investment in sterilisations and support for the health and feeding of animals belonging to people on low incomes.
