Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA) installed the first shelter in the scope of the Vila dos Gatos project on Rua da Glória, in Vilamoura, on the 12th of July, in what was «one of several steps in a project that aims to sterilize up to 1500 cats street annually", according to the association.
The shelters were built by the inmates of the Silves prison and have the support of Inframoura and the Municipality of Loulé.
The inauguration of the shelter was attended by Telmo Pinto, president of the Quarteira Council, and the founder of ARA, Sid Richardson, accompanied by members of the Association, as well as the local caregiver Margarida Fonseca and the coordinators of the capture/sterilization program /return of ARA Cidália Veloso and Cristina and Anabela Marques.
“For local caregivers, who have been caring for stray cats with little support for years, the project is a show of much-needed support for the selfless work done in the area on behalf of these cats. To date, these efforts have mostly been carried out through makeshift shelters and voluntary (and often ignored) work in the name of the welfare of these animals», according to the ARA.
At the ceremony, Telmo Pinto recognized the limits «that the local government has – due to the lack of specialized knowledge or resources – and that collaborations like this are central to the proper functioning of the Municipalities«, reveals the association.
The installation of a second shelter in Rua da Alemão, also in Vilamoura, is already planned.
The project «aims to deal with the problem of the uncontrolled increase in populations of stray cats, with the aim of building and installing up to 40 shelters and sterilizing up to 1500 stray cats annually – depending on the support given by the local authorities».
«ARA has also installed the project's first shelter in Almancil, with another 10 ready to be installed as soon as possible in various areas of Loulé. Launched recently, the Vila dos Gatos project has already captured, sterilized, and released around 400 cats in their respective colonies», adds the association.
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