A Lisbon City Council detected eight animals that were being used for begging in the city center. They were in the possession of homeless people. Two were rescued and the rest returned to their owners.
In a statement, the municipality specifies that the animals exploited are three adult dogs, three puppies and two dwarf rabbits, which were in the possession of two men and a woman.
After analyzing the situation by the authorities, the two rabbits were taken from their owners for being “malnourished, lacking hygiene and at risk to their lives”. The dogs were returned to those responsible, but will continue to be monitored by the municipality.
The rabbits were delivered to SOS Coelhos.
The inspection was carried out in “situations of use of animals for begging in downtown the capital”, added the Chamber in the note.
The animals were collected in a joint operation from the Lisbon Animal Ombudsman’s Office with the Lisbon Animal House, the Municipal Police and the SOS Coelhos movement.
Ângelo Pereira, councilor for Animal Protection, considers the “intolerable” situation and says that the Chamber will guarantee the “respect and dignity of animals in situations of abuse or danger”.
To the reports of exploitation of animals for begging in downtown Lisbon to the Ombudsman have “increased significantly”. They are made by passersby who witness the presence of the animals next to beggars “used with the aim of encouraging almsgiving”. In the last week alone, there were more than a dozen complaints.
Tags: Chamber rescues animals exploited homeless people downtown Lisbon
