The Municipality of Funchal (CMF), through its Animal Welfare Unit, is launching its 2023 Municipal Kennel of Vasco Gil, cat and dog adoption campaign from the 6th to the 20th of March, in Funchal’s three main shopping centres – Forum Madeira, La Vie, and Madeira Shopping-.
The President of the Municipality of Funchal, Pedro Calado, accompanied by Nádia Coelho, Councilwoman of the Environment, inaugurated, this afternoon, in La Vie, an exhibition with near life size images of the animals available for adoption. These are accompanied by a brief history of the animal and its characteristics.
In the three shopping centres, 63 animals (46 dogs and 17 cats) are on display, which the kennel believes meet the adoption criteria and are perfectly adaptable to new environments.
Speaking to reporters, the Mayor of Funchal said that the adoption campaign ensured that animal welfare was paramount and that campaigns like these, help families who wish to adopt an animal in a safe environment. ”
The adoption has a fixed rate of 20 euros. However, the municipality, explained the Mayor, will support adoptees with the initial costs of their chosen pet (dog, cat or both) provided it is adopted from the Funchal Municipal Kennel. The support includes initial mandatory vaccines, microchipping, and sterilisation.
Pedro Calado said that last year’s campaign saw an adoption increase of 25% compared to 2021. A total of 337 animals were adopted (127 dogs and 210 cats).
He went on to say that the CMF is:
“Working hard with regard to animal welfare, and we appreciate the support of the Animal Ombudsman and the Associations that work with us. We are seeing positive results,” he stressed referring to the CMF’s school animal welfare awareness programmes.
Pedro Calado stressed that the animal cause remains one of the “priority areas” of the Municipality of Funchal. In this particular, he confirmed that the CMF will invest 1 million euros to support the Municipal Kennel, located on the site of Vasco Gil, in the parish of Santo António.
Finally, the mayor of Funchal thanked the collaboration of the 3 shopping centres for their support.
The Director of La Vie, Aires Rocha, said that “the fact that thousands of people pass in this shopping centre daily, it is also important for us to associate with this animal cause and to be able to support the Chamber in the dissemination of animals for adoption”.
In the La Vie Shopping Centre, the exhibition will be open to the public on Floor 2, in Madeira Shopping on floor 0, and in the Madeira Forum will be distributed throughout the various accesses, from floor -1 to floor 2.
In this way, and with the fundamental support of the 3 Shopping Centres, the municipality of Funchal intends to contribute to the increase of adoptions from the kennel and allow for more animals to find kind forever homes.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
