Conceived in April 2021 by Mayor Júnior of Femac within the scope of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, a scenario where cases of abandonment and cruelty against animals have increased and, consequently, the work and challenges of protectors, the Municipal Center of Animal Health of the City of Apucarana (Cemsa) completed three years with results that made it a reference in Paraná.
Structured on the premises of the then municipal kennel as a public medical-veterinary center focused on abandoned animals, in addition to guardianship of animals for adoption, free castration of dogs and cats from low-income families and rescued from the street, through the Mais Vida Animal Program Cemsa also guarantees monthly transfer of food to independent protectors and veterinary assistance to abandoned animals who are victims of accidents or mistreatment. “In these three years, in addition to 3,506 castrations, the program also carried out 2,280 rescues and free transfer of 67,885 kilos of food to independent protectors”, reveals the center’s coordinator, veterinarian João Pedro Correa, during an event that celebrated the three years of site activity.
-READ MORE: Apucarana Futsal defends unbeaten record at Lagoão this Saturday (27)
Present at the event, Mayor Júnior of Femac highlights that around R$1.5 million in municipal resources were invested in maintaining services during the period. “The advent of the pandemic further reinforced the need to expand public actions for animal care and well-being. After intense planning, we arrived at “Mais Vida Animal”. From then on, our kennel, which was already a reference, became a specialized center, providing, free of charge, broader assistance in promoting animal health, especially with regard to medical-veterinary care for victims of being run over, violence or abandonment. Today, after completing three years, Apucarana has one of the largest programs in Paraná aimed at animal causes”, said Mayor Júnior of Femac.
According to him, in addition to investments from the municipal administration, the success of the initiative is the result of partnership and union between the Municipal Executive and Legislative powers, independent protectors and the Cemsa team, which has 11 employees, including veterinarians, administrative assistants , general and rescue services. “We also have support from the Municipal Civil Guard (GCM) and, whenever necessary, the security forces – Military and Civil Police – in responding to incidents involving ill-treatment. Maintaining a reference structure like this is no easy task and Cemsa’s success is the result of integrated work”, reinforced the mayor of Apucarana, thanking the councilors of Apucarana for approving the budget allocated to finance the site.
The coordinator of Cemsa, veterinarian João Pedro Correa, praised the role of the mayor, highlighting his stance of support for all the local demands. “In addition to being the creator of Cemsa and the Mais Vida Animal Program, Mayor Júnior of Femac is directly responsible for maintaining the results that are achieved day by day with hard and dedicated work on the part of all members of our team, where we work 12 hours a day. per day, from Sunday to Sunday,” said Correa.
On behalf of the independent protectors benefiting from Cemsa, Vanuza de Oliveira said that the program has provided all the necessary support. “I have worked for more than 20 years in the animal cause, helping to remove more than 7 thousand animals from the streets, and I can say that in the last three years, from Cemsa, we have had much more support from the municipal public authorities. We thank Mayor Júnior of Femac for this program, which has helped a lot”, said she, who is part of the NGO Lar and currently looks after 119 animals awaiting adoption.
Presence – The celebration of three years of Cemsa was attended by councilors Rodrigo Liévore (Recife), Jossuela Pirelli and Luciano Facchiano, municipal secretaries Emídio Bachiega (Health), Marli Fernandes (Education), Juliano Dalla Costa (Social Assistance) and Laércio de Moraes (Chief of Staff), superintendents Gentil Pereira (Finance), Adan Lenharo (Industry, Commerce and Employment), special advisor for Security matters at the Municipal Office, PMPR reserve lieutenant colonel, Marcos José Facio ( Cabinet), and the doctor from the Municipal Health Authority (AMS), Dr. Odarlone Orente.
Service – To access free castration, the gateway is the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS). “To be entitled to the benefit, in addition to being registered in the Federal Government’s CadÚnico, the animal’s owner must be part of a family with a monthly income of up to half the minimum wage per person”, explains veterinarian João Pedro Correa. By regulation, the number of castrations is limited to two animals every two years, per family.
To be considered an independent protector and have free access to food assistance, a person must have at least 15 animals. The reporting channel is the on-call number WhatsApp 99967-0045, from Sunday to Sunday, from 8 am to 8 pm. The service is available from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, by calling 3308-1414. Cemsa is located at Rua Cristiano Kussmaul, 2578, in Jardim Interlagos.
