Exotic animals are all non-wild species that can be kept as pets. Birds, mammals, such as rodents or rabbits, and reptiles are some of the most common examples in Portuguese homes. However, not everyone finds a real home in these rooms. Just like dogs and cats, these animals are victims of abandonment. A more camouflaged helplessness to which the Portuguese Association for the Rescue of Exotic Animals (APRAE) intends to respond.
Founded by Marta Mendes and Sónia Rodrigues, the organization welcomes any exotic animal that is a victim. The journey of this project began in 2019, in Coimbra. However, it was only in 2023 that APRAE was officially and legally constituted. The initiative is the only one, in this way, to operate in three hubs: Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon. Animal collection is, however, carried out throughout the country, in order to cover as many exotic animals as possible.
“There were no legally constituted exotic animal associations in Portugal until last year”, reveals Sónia Rodrigues, one of the founders of the organization, in statements to Champion of the Provinces. A need that reaffirmed APRAE’s work, especially with regard to society’s lack of knowledge regarding the abandonment of these species. Between rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, “per year, we rescue around 100/150 animals”, says the person in charge.
Rabbits are the biggest victims
A large part of the animals that APRAE has been removing from the streets and/or the bush were abandoned. “People think they are returning them to nature when, in fact, they are animals that are neither part of our fauna nor wild”, explains Sónia Rodrigues. In this sense, the probability of surviving on their own becomes slim. However, abandonment is not the only suffering in the lives of these animals. Many of them are victims of illegal breeding.
“OLX, for example, has thousands of ads selling animals and none of these people are legal to do so. There is no type of inspection of the conditions in which they are kept”, warns the person in charge. The project thus makes it possible to give a new future to exotics who have or have had few opportunities to truly live. From the Algarve to Alentejo and even Bragança, the initiative has already helped hundreds of animals. To achieve this, it has the support of several associations. “Animals are often picked up by dog and cat organizations. They contact us and we rescue them. The same happens with Chambers, Parish Councils or veterinarians”, says Sónia Rodrigues.
After the dog and the cat, the rabbit is the most common pet in Portugal. On the other hand, it is also the most abandoned exotic species. According to the founder of APRAE, “people don’t understand that, like dogs and cats, these animals also need visits to veterinarians”, lamenting that “they are seen as an appendage of the house and not a living being. They are bought, kept in a cage and considered second-class animals.”
Lack of legislation
The little control that exists over exotics could be behind their constant abandonment and illegal breeding. Sónia Rodrigues has no doubt that legislation has left these species out. “Only dogs and cats are considered companion animals, others are not. Any legislation regarding mistreatment does not apply to any of these species”, she notes. In addition to this reality, there are no welfare standards in law for keeping these animals.
“The conditions for maintaining each species are not equal and, for them to be legally bred, there must be a minimum of space, food, among other things”, says the person in charge. Noting that, to have these animals in the laboratory “there are also minimums”, Sónia adds that APRAE is, at the moment, working so that laboratory animals, which are not used in experiments, can be adopted, as as is already the case in some European countries.
As a way of changing mentalities, “legislation should consider exotics as companion animals”, highlights the voice of APRAE. According to the founder, sales of animals on the internet should also be prohibited. “If we just started from the fact that advertisements were not allowed, people would no longer have a profitable business. I believe it would be a good first step towards reducing illegal breeding,” she admits. Thus, and consequently, “we could control the animals that exist”. In addition to this, – and despite there being few stores that sell animals –, Sónia considers that, those that do, should hand them over to future guardians with a care guide. Owners who did not have this possibility can obtain information on the APRAE page. After all, each species requires very specific care. “Most exotic animals die in their first year in their new home, because minimum welfare standards are not respected”, she also highlights, explaining that these animals need a veterinarian specialized in exotic animals.
Rescue and lack of support
Despite operating in Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon, APRAE does not have a physical space, after all it does not have any state support to facilitate this process. However, it has a voluntary carpooling system that allows animals to be rescued throughout the country and subsequently directed to Temporary Foster Care Families (FAT).
Since “legally, we cannot enter the home of someone who is mistreating an exotic animal, because it is not a crime”, the organization works on a contact basis. In this case, whenever there is an animal in need, APRAE is contacted and travels to the location to collect it. Each case is then assessed individually, as none of these animals leave the FAT for adoption without first being seen by a veterinarian.
From the moment the adoption is viable, a screening is carried out. “People apply, they have to show us, through photographs, that they have the necessary conditions, they have to tell us where they go to the vet, where the animal stays on vacation and explain whether the rest of the family agrees with the adoption”, he says. Sónia Rodrigues. With this, the association aims to ensure that suffering does not become part of the animal’s life again. On the other hand, “animals that are very sick, at the end of their lives, or in need of very specialized care stay with us in a sanctuary until they die”, he further emphasizes.
The fact that APRAE does not have any financial support makes all this work more complex. To speed up the process, the project benefits from the help of five veterinarians in the three hubs (Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon), who are available at any time of the day. It also has several partnerships with stores and accepts all types of donations: money, cages, food, toys, among others. In addition, it is always available to receive new FAT.
“People who, for example, do not have the stability to adopt, but who are willing to help an animal by welcoming it into their home until it is adopted”, explains Sónia Rodrigues. Those who choose to be FAT don’t need to worry about anything other than giving love to their exotic, after all, APRAE takes care of everything: from providing cages and food to paying all related bills. “Only has [FAT] of being available to take the animals to our veterinarians and, obviously, being in contact with us to ensure that everything is ok”, concludes the founder. In this regard, and taking into account the proximity to veterinarians, foster families are only accepted in Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon.
APRAE is always available to inform and/or answer questions for anyone who has or wants to have an exotic animal, as well as anyone who simply wants to help. The association can be contacted via social media, on the website https://projeto-de-resgate-de-animais-exoticos.webnode.pt/, or by email at [email protected].
Cátia Barbosa (Journalist for “Campeão” in Porto)
Text published in the paper edition of Champion of the Provinces on March 28, 2024
Tags: Association emerged Coimbra saves abandoned exotic animals
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