Students from both pre and basic school levels, from the Almancil Schools Group have put their artistic skills at the service of animal welfare. The initiative results from the protocol signed between the schools and Animal Rescue Algarve, which aims at consolidating the educational work of both parties, in order to build more sensible and conscious future adults.

As the end of the first school term comes to an end, the students decided to focus on themes that reinforce the importance of raising awareness of animal mistreatment, sterilisations, and the negative impact of having dogs in chains or street cat colonies, among other topics.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Some works focused on explaining how to proceed with sterilisations and why, while others appealed to a greater consciousness of the negative repercussions of putting dogs, “who also have feelings and can feel pain”, in chains. Some other interpretations had a more creative angle, exploring the multiple ways the words ‘cat’ and ‘dog’ as written across a variety of languages, as well as their dietary habits.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Among the various drawings and creative interpretations, the students also organised a food and goods fundraiser, resulting (among other things) in donations of animal feed, toys, and leashes for Animal Rescue Algarve’s rescued animals.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client;

Located in the Cabanita area, in Loulé, the non-profit’s shelter has seen the rescue and rehoming of over 1000 animals since 2018. Animal Rescue Algarve, whose focus expands well beyond its shelter, has reinforced is commitment towards the importance of Education, mostly through visits and protocols with schools – Interactions that, according to the charity, are central to a systemic change of how animals are perceived and treated in Portugal.