Azorean Government launches public consultation on pet welfare and abandonment - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food, is conducting a public survey throughout September to gauge the views and experiences of the Azorean population regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

The initiative aims to identify the main factors contributing to pet abandonment, transforming citizens’ perceptions into useful information for defining future preventive measures and awareness-raising campaigns.

The questionnaire covers the level of knowledge regarding the obligations of responsible pet ownership, the reasons that may lead to pet abandonment, and the crucial criteria that should be considered before purchasing or adopting a pet, namely the prior assessment of the conditions required to ensure food, veterinary care, identification, neutering, safety and the long-term availability to care.

According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “public participation is essential to deepen our understanding of this issue and foster greater responsibility and respect for pets.”

The government official emphasised that promoting animal welfare requires the close and joint involvement of public entities, associations, professionals and society in general. In this regard, he stressed that each answer to this questionnaire “contributes to a better understanding of the existing challenges and finding solutions that are best suited to the reality of the Azores.”

António Ventura pointed out that the Regional Government “has been developing a strategy to combat abandonment, based, amongst other measures, on the neutering, identification and registration of animals and the promotion of responsible pet ownership.”

Reiterating the importance of giving the community a voice in building a Region that values and respects animals as living beings that are part of everyday family life, this deparment calls for widespread participation from all citizens.

The response process is quick and completely anonymous. The survey can be completed by the end of September via the online participation form or by scanning the QR code provided in the campaign materials.