Animal abuse is RIFE on Madeira; you only have to visit a major tourist attraction here on the Island to see the amount of disowned and stray dogs that turn up emaciated and starving.
Some Madeirans shrug this off and say they’re “community dogs”. They say
It’s a great sign of our wonderful island that these dogs who cannot live with their owners are adopted into the community and the community looks after them and feeds them.
I’m going to call this out now as BULLSHIT. It’s utter rubbish.
Abused animals on Madeira
I’ve been here for nearly 3 weeks and we’ve seen animals hit, kicked, chased away, had stuff thrown at them and ignored.
Caged animals
Not only are many dogs kicked out of their homes but many, especially in rural communities, seem to be caged or tethered and never allowed out.
I have read reports from some people on the island claiming that Madeirans are not well educated and they just need to be taught how to love their pets, but REALLY, if you need to be taught about principles the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour and how NOT to abuse or neglect an animal, that’s not a lack of education, it’s a lack of MORALS.
Max the Dog
For the last 20 days we have been documenting the neglect of our neighbour’s dog. Max, the dog, is left in his cage every day and has been in his cage, alone with no stimulation, for at least 6 months.
We decided to report this to SPAD (the equivalent of the RSPCA although they have no jurisdiction to intervene) and the GNR (Police).
There’s a video at the bottom if you want to watch Max’s journey.
Here’s what to do if you want to report animal abuse on Madeira Island
SPAD – SOCIEDADE PROTECTORA DOS ANIMAIS DOMÉSTICOS DO FUNCHAL
RUA DO MATADOURO 10 A
9050-100 FUNCHAL
MADEIRA – PORTUGAL
Tel: +351 291 22 08 52 / +351 291 231 899
fax: +351 291 23 54 33General – [email protected]
Director – [email protected]
9050-100 FUNCHAL
MADEIRA – PORTUGAL
Tel: +351 291 22 08 52 / +351 291 231 899
fax: +351 291 23 54 33General – [email protected]
Director – [email protected]
GNR
Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses ,13
Funchal, Madeira
Tel: +351 291 214 460
Facebook
Santana Municipal Council
Santana Municipal Council
Tel:707 201 190
