Portuguese municipalities inaugurate new animal welfare centers

Municipalities in Portugal have inaugurated upgraded facilities to improve animal welfare and combat abandonment.

In Valença, a new Official Companion Animal Collection Center (CRO) opened in Gandra. The facility, representing an investment of approximately 300,000 euros—including 100,000 euros from the Environmental Fund via the ICNF—covers over 300 square meters. It can accommodate roughly 60 dogs and cats and features veterinary services, sterilization rooms, and outdoor recreation areas. A collaboration protocol was signed with the Selvagenial association, which will manage daily care and adoption promotion.

In Guimarães, the CRO in Aldão has undergone a major expansion and requalification. This project involved a municipal investment exceeding 1.3 million euros, adding over 1,000 square meters of covered area and doubling the facility's capacity. The center can now house up to 124 dogs in covered areas, supplemented by five outdoor parks. The upgrades include new infirmaries, recovery spaces, and improved ventilation and acoustic controls to meet modern animal welfare standards.