Rio Municipality neuters 600 stray cats in single‑day campaign

On Saturday, 25 July, the Rio de Janeiro municipal government carried out a spay-and-neuter drive that sterilised 600 cats across six city shelters in the South and North zones. The operation was organised by the Municipal Secretariat for Protection and Defence of Animals in partnership with the City Council’s Animal Defence Commission, aiming to curb reproduction and lower the number of abandoned felines.

Secretary Jeniffer Coelho Ramos said the procedure is essential to prevent unwanted litters that lead to abandonment. Councilor Luiz Ramos Filho noted a rise in abandonment after the pandemic, as families who adopted pets during lockdown later faced financial hardship and surrendered animals to the streets. The municipal shelters, now at capacity with more than 1,500 animals, are resorting to temporary homes. The campaign involved 20 volunteer veterinarians who performed the surgeries at the six facilities.