AZORES | Antonio Ventura calls for a more inclusive society that cares for animals

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, António Ventura, stressed Wednesday at the Regional Legislative Assembly the progress achieved by the Regional Government “in the implementation of measures that contribute to a more responsible and inclusive society that cares more for animals.”

In a debate that would eventually approve amendments to the law safeguarding animal welfare, António Ventura recalled that, with the current Government, “protocols were signed for the first time, in addition to those already signed with Animal Welfare associations and the parish councils of the islands that do not have approved official collection centres for sterilisation and identification purposes.”

“We have provided the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR), throughout the archipelago, with 44 portable readers to read the transponder, ensuring the identification of the pet’s owner at any moment. We have also held the first Pet Fair, an event that featured the participation of about 20 regional and national pet associations and entities involved in this area, such as GNR and PSP,” said the government official.

In view of the animals registered by Official Collection Centres and Animal Welfare Associations on the RACE platform (registration of pets and wandering animals) and the fees charged for registration on the SIAC platform (pet information system), António Ventura stressed that this Government “has already managed that these entities would not spend more than 40 thousand Euros.”

“This saving will enable these entities to use the amount for pet sterilisations. It does not include the purchase of microchips, only the registration of pets in the database,” he said.

In 2022, the Secretariat for Agriculture subsidised 1,406 sterilisations for animal protection associations, 1,985 sterilisations for official collection centres and 124 sterilisations for parish councils, corresponding to a total of 3,515 sterilisations and an overall amount of €201,717.67.

“We are preparing training courses for those wishing to adopt pets as well as training on animal health, pet behaviour and the legislation in force,” the Regional Secretary also announced.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU