Ajuda a Alimentar Cães Association was born roughly three years ago when Mariana Nobrega, then still a high school student, decided to create a Facebook page as a way to collect donations to feed the stray dogs that, for pity and love, would collect at her parents’ home. The page was successful. Not too long before, the donations received, both in food and cash, were enough to treat and feed other dogs and be able to extend this also to help cats. In November of 2014 the association was legalized and adopted the name:
"AAAC - ASSOCIAÇÃO AJUDA A ALIMENTAR CÃES". Since then, the association has expanded further. Our motto has always been: "We rescue, take care, look for homes and happy endings!" All requests for help are received through Facebook. Most of the rescues are made by Joana Ribeiro, Mariana Nobrega and Ana Abreu. Animals most often are found in miserable conditions, very sick, skinny, hungry and tired. They are always transported to the clinics, Vetmadeira or Vetfunchal where they soon start treatment.
We managed to save and rescue some animals thanks to the generous donations of people who follow our work through social networks. We are against killing, and any form of euthanasia that is not done just to prevent animal suffering caused by incurable diseases that takes away their quality and life expectancy, and we vehemently oppose the huge number of animals that have been killed annually in the municipal kennel of Vasco Gil.
Today we have partnerships with several veterinary clinics and companies in various fields of activity that help us according to their possibilities, and assign discounts on products marketed and / or services they provide to our members. We rescue, treat and put up for adoption about 30 animals per month. We have already sterilized more than 120 animals and we offer help for animals with needy families.
We promote awareness campaigns in schools, especially amongst the youngest children, against abuse, abandonment, and in favour of sterilization, explaining, all its advantages. We report cases of abuse and neglect that we know to the relevant police bodies, following then the process, in order to know the judgment of their results.
We currently have 55 associates, our Facebook page has more than 20,000 followers. The video of the German Shepherd "Valente", for example, had 271,096 views, and was the subject of 9,285 shares and 4,690 likes. These are impressive numbers for an animal association based in Madeira!
To all who have contributed to this being possible, our thanks. However, to continue our work, we need your contributions. We are only the hand that carries what you give us to the animals who suffer. Help us help them. You can do this through volunteer work and / or becoming associated with us, or by cash contributions. Everything, no matter how little it may be, is welcome, and both we, like them, thank you. To donate, you can do so directly to a member of the association or deposit to the following account:
Name: Associação Ajuda a Alimentar Cães
NIB: 0010 0000 52090190001 91
IBAN: PT50 0010 0000 5209 0190 0019 1 SWIFT / BIC: BBPIPTPL
Finally, here are some tips:
Get your pet neutered or spayed; treat him like a member of your family - never leave him; ensure he has access to veterinary medical care when needed; report the GNR (SEPNA) cases of abuse and / or negligence that is of your knowledge that can be proved by photographs and witnesses.
The "AAAC - ASSOCIAÇÃO AJUDA A ALIMENTAR CÃES" thanks everyone for their help.
Mariana Nóbrega, Sofia Nóbrega, Joana Ribeiro, Carina Abreu, João Henriques de Freitas
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ajudaaalimentarcaes/
To see photos of some of the animals that have been helped, fostered and rehomed, click on the link below:
A morning kiss, a discreet touch of his nose landing somewhere on the middle of my face.
Because his long white whiskers tickled, I began every day laughing.
Janet F Faure