The horrific story of Lagoa’s 30 or more starving horses could see conclusion today (Friday August 22).
A council source has told the Resident that veterinary authorities plan to rescue the horses – all at death’s door on the outskirts of town near the secondary school – “very soon”.
Horse charity Their Voice is standing by, “absolutely willing” to take all the animals immediately into their care.
The desperate situation which has set social media alight over the last few days is still “extremely delicate” and serves to highlight perfectly how new animal protection laws mean nothing, as they only cover domestic animals.
These horses, all owned by António Félix – who had already been in the media spotlight over a similar case in 2012 involving dogs, horses and donkeys, – have been mistreated, “tied up in the sun without any water to drink” and abandoned on barren fields for longer than anyone can care to remember – but as council worker Anabela Simão told us, the council’s “hands are tied”.
“We are extremely concerned about this situation and have been doing everything in our power to see it solved,” she added, stressing that the only entity with the authority to act is DGAV (veterinary authorities), which the council is pushing hard.
Meantime, Sherry Saunders from the Algarve horse charity Desperate Horsewives is well-aware that the horses cannot last much longer.
Saunders is in constant liaison with Their Voice, in the centre of Portugal, which is ready to receive the horses.
She and other group members have also had meetings with Félix and had agreed on a “feeding rota” before the news of a possible DGAV rescue surfaced.
The women first thought of paying Félix for his horses (they told us the man was asking for roughly €1,000 per horse), but they then dropped the idea as they feared it would only “encourage” animal cruelty by others.
Hoping the DGAV will indeed act soon, Saunders stressed the situation remains “extremely delicate” and any antagonism of António Felix, or incorrect feeding of the horses “could lead to disaster”.
Anyone interested in helping is advised to click onto the group’s Facebook page for more information (find Desperate Horsewives).
“These horses are starvation cases,” Saunders reiterated. “If they are fed incorrectly by well-meaning people, it will kill them.”
Council wants to make Lagoa more “animal-friendly”
Anabela Simão admitted it “pains” the council to witness situations like those of the starving horses, and said it is willing to work to organise programmes, lectures and other activities to raise “animal awareness and sensibility”.
“We already have some programmes in effect, such as ‘Crescer a Brincar’ (Growing Up while Playing) which aims to develop children’s social, affective and cognitive abilities and also has a strong emphasis on animals.”
Municipal vet Carlos Costa also stressed that the town’s kennel tries to avoid putting animals down these days.
“I work with two people who help me find owners for the animals we take in,” he told the Resident, revealing it usually takes no more than “two weeks” to find them a home. Some have even found new homes in countries as far away as Germany.
The problem, as both stressed, is that sometimes the law does not allow them to do more for their municipality’s animals.
“Just like with this case of the horses, there’s only so much we can do. Nevertheless, we will continue to pressure authorities to act against situations where animals are mistreated and abused.”
By MICHAEL BRUXO – [email protected]
