The mainland Government has announced that it will support the most needy families in the payment of veterinary services and pet food, totaling one million euros. One of several strategy measures to improve the well-being of families and their pets.
The measure is part of a package of 14.5 million euros to promote animal welfare. According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Sea, 500,000 euros are planned for reimbursing expenses related to veterinary services, and another 500,000 euros to reimburse expenses related to pet food.
These amounts are intended not only for the most needy families, but also for official collection centres or legally constituted zoophile associations.
“In the case of needy families, support is granted through the respective municipalities, in which the assessment of the eligibility of the family’s condition depends on the social action services of the municipality itself, which must have already established the socioeconomic criteria,” explains the ministry.
According to the ministry, this reimbursement of pet food resembles an “animal food bank,” as “specific support will be made available to guarantee the feeding of pets belonging to families in situations of economic vulnerability. This support does not provide for the creation of a physical food bank, but for the sharing of expenses related to animal feed,” the ministry representative clarified.
Applications began on the 1st of October, and the support will be used to pay expenses incurred between the 1st of October 2024 and the 30th of September 2025.
All medical-veterinary acts carried out in duly licensed centres, as well as all products intended for animal feed, physiological needs, or general treatment, are eligible.
According to the ministry, the maximum limit of financial support for food is 5 thousand euros per household for expenses incurred between the mandatory dates. Financial support for veterinary services “will be subject to maximum limits per beneficiary, defined according to the population residing in the municipality.”
“The maximum reimbursement ceilings increase progressively according to the population size, ensuring that municipalities with a larger number of inhabitants can access support proportional to their needs,” the ministry said.
Concerning animal welfare, the Government plans to spend 14.5 million euros on construction, refurbishment, and modernisation of infrastructures, as well as medical and veterinary support for treatments, sterilisations, and identification of dogs and cats, as well as support for zoophile associations.
There was no specific mention of Madeira, but hopefully, these measures will be passed to include Madeira and the Azores.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
