SHELTER FIRE - EMERGENCY APPEAL

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The Kismet Account, founded in 1983 is a respected, progressive volunteer group working to protect stray and feral animals around the world.

Staffed entirely by unpaid self-funding volunteers, drawn from professional back-grounds in the animal welfare or veterinary industries, we carry out neutering projects (currently in Portugal, Gibraltar and Greece) and run workshop and equipment donation programmes elsewhere in the world.

WWe are not a flying-vet charity but that bit different. Recognising that effective population control of strays needs a holistic and professional approach, we place as much emphasis on humane handling, capture, and professional education as we do on putting vets on aeroplanes.

On the 15th January a suspected arson attack destroyed the administration and veterinary building at the Gaticao Shelter in Vagueira, Portugal. Though no staff and volunteers were hurt, 24 dogs and 2 cats were killed in this incident.

We have worked closely with the shelter since 2008 and neutered more than 300 animals from the shelter and the surrounding area. The destruction of the clinic, recovery, and storage facilities (used by us as a base both for shelter work and feral TNR) means that our ability to continue to support the charity is compromised. For the shelter itself, neutering and treatment cannot be carried out on site, and stocks of medication and equipment are lost and costs will immediately increase .150 dogs remain on site.

In the short term we are communicating with the charity till they plan their next step forward but donations of funds and offers of skilled labour are welcome which will be passed on directly to the charity. Donations to us will be transferred across. Our longer term aim is to help with rebuilding and reequipping, we cannot do this from our own current funds. We are waiting for news from the shelter before asking for medicines / equipment, due to costs associated with transport. Please email us (see contacts page) if you can help.