The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced that the Government will sent a proposal to animal welfare associations in early 2018 with the aim of providing financial support to various activities, namely deworming, vaccination, sterilisation and electronic identification of animals under the care of these associations.
João Ponte spoke Tuesday at the Legislative Assembly in Horta during the discussion of a draft resolution on the welfare of pets and stray animals, stressing that the actions promoted by animal protection associations will be carried out in partnership with veterinarians.
The government official added that the ordinance will include all the recommendations of the resolution under discussion at the Parliament, which was unanimously approved.
For João Ponte, "the Government has taken proper steps with responsibility and common sense, taking care of the different interests in this subject." He also took the opportunity to highlight the "meritorious and free work of animal protection associations."
The Regional Secretary assured that the Government is doing its part by the raising awareness of people for the mistreatment and abandonment of animals. It also provides support to associations so that they may fund their activity plans, feed and take care of abandoned animals.
Therefore, a positive development is visible, notably in the behaviour of people regarding animal abandonment and animal welfare issues.
In 2018, the Regional Government also plans to create a restricted access database with information on pets and owner registration.
"In fact, it serve as a dynamic pet ID that will facilitate the identification of owners and hold them accountable for any situations of abandonment or mistreatment that may occur," said João Ponte.
The government official emphasised that the access to the database, which is being created by computer technicians from the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry, will be restricted to technicians, associations involved in the defence and protection of animals, veterinarians and security forces. It aims to ensure the traceability of all animals.
João Ponte also said the Regional Directorate for Agriculture and several partners are working on a brochure to be distributed by the population in order to raise their awareness for the non-abandonment of animals as for the importance of sterilisation and animal welfare in general. As he revealed, a video is being prepared to be posted on social networks and exhibited on television.
As for Official Animal Collection Centres, the Regional Secretary stated that there has been an evolution since June with the completion of the infrastructure located in Ribeira Grande and the beginning of the works in the Intermunicipal Collection Centre on Pico Island.
The municipalities of Ponta Delgada, Lagoa, Vila do Porto, Ribeira Grande already have centres for the collection of animals in operation. In the case of Terceira Island, there is an intermunicipal centre (which includes Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória).
In turn, the municipalities of Povoação, Vila Franca do Campo and Nordeste have signed agreements with official collection centres located in other municipalities.