The expansion and refurbishment work on the Official Animal Collection Center in Portimão, which will double the current capacity to welcome dogs and cats in the municipality, was assigned yesterday, the 13th, and should be completed «in the first half of 2023».
The renovated municipal kennel and cattery in Portimão «will be equipped with decent conditions, both for resident animals, for employees and also for potential adopters», according to the Portimão City Council.
The intervention will cost around 870 thousand euros and «goes through the recovery of the existing one and the expansion of the current equipment to the north, moving the same from 360 m2 to a two-story building with a total area of 860m2».
The ground floor of the center will be used for technical and health services, as well as for dogs, with the installed capacity increasing from 30 to 60. On this level will be installed the future Animal Sterilization Room, the Attendance Cabinet, the de Espera and some Recreation Parks», describes the municipality.
On Floor 1 will be located the cattery, which, according to Osvaldo Mateus, Municipal Veterinary, "will benefit from a significant improvement in conditions, since in addition to doubling its capacity, from 20 to 40, it will provide more quality in reception, with of Adoptions and Quarantine”.
The development of the contract «will be monitored daily with regard to the stress of the animals, since as it is an expansion, they will have to live together “animals and works”. As soon as the “expansion” part is completed, the animals will provisionally move to the new construction, later completing the requalification of the current facilities».
Isilda Gomes, mayor of Portimão, underlined that, «in addition to the construction of a new, modern space, with twice the capacity we had until now and with clear concerns to guarantee animal welfare and adequate working conditions and coexistence, the municipal structure itself will have to grow, to qualify and improve its response capacity».
At the project presentation ceremony and assignment of the work, the mayor of Portimão also highlighted the fundamental role of volunteers from the various associations that work daily for animal welfare, referring that «thanks to the collaboration protocols established with these protection entities animal, namely in terms of sterilization and treatment of animals, it was possible to guarantee 700 sterilizations a year and that around 350 animals were adopted in 2021 (cats and dogs)».
The mayor also thanked the security forces, PSP and GNR, of the DGAV – Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Medicine, more specifically the Regional Director Cristina Ferradeira and the ICNF for the decisive role.
«Today is an important day for Portimão, because a work that over the last few decades had been constantly postponed will be a reality», he concluded.
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