The Municipal Assembly of Lisbon recommends the creation of a Municipal Veterinary Hospital of Solidarity

The Municipal Assembly of Lisbon this Thursday decided to recommend to the council the creation of a Municipal Veterinary Hospital of Solidarity for low-income animal owners or for animal welfare associations based in the municipality.

Presented by the sole deputy of PAN – People-Animals-Nature, António Morgado Valente, the recommendation was approved by votes against the Liberal Initiative (IL), PPM, Chegi, CDS-PP deputy Margarida Penedo and independent Miguel Graça. , from “Cidadaos Por Lisboa” (elected by the PS/Livre coalition).

CDS-PP and Aliança abstained, while BE, Livre, PEV, PCP, independent MP Daniela Serraglia (from Cidadãos Por Lisboa), PS, PSD, PAN and MPT voted in favour.

The recommendation asks the City Council to “provide an appropriate amount in the 2024 budget for the construction and installation of equipment for the Municipal Veterinary Hospital of Solidarity,” which will serve as a response to the most needy families with pets.

The equipment is also intended to serve “animal protection associations located in the municipality, which are not responsible for the provision of medical and veterinary care.”

António Morgado Valente recalled that in February 2018, during the previous term of the PS presidency, the PAN recommendation for the establishment of the Municipal Veterinary Hospital of Solidarity was approved by the assembly, but was not implemented.

The MHP coordinated with the current executive led by the PSD/SDS-PP to begin the construction of this hospital, especially since it was also included in the electoral program of the Novos Tempos coalition (SDP/SDS-PP/MPT). /PPM/Alliance).

For the PSD, Carlos Reis confirmed that the construction of an outpatient veterinary hospital is one of Novos Tempos’ election commitments, saying that it is a “pet-friendly coalition” but “not animalistic.”

The Social Democrat said that the election promise will be fulfilled, and the first step will be the creation of a Municipal Social Veterinary Center.

PS MP Hugo Gaspar performed an “act of contrition” by admitting that in the past the PS was against this PAN recommendation, but will now vote in favor because whoever governs has this electoral commitment.

In response, SDP municipal group leader Louis Newton said: “The Socialist Party, after 14 years of inaction, is in favor of doing something.”

Following this intervention, socialist Hugo Gaspar accused the PSD/SDS-PP government of being “lacking in anything” in terms of measures to protect animals, highlighting the work of the PS in this area, including the creation of the Animal House. Animals of Lisbon (CAL).

From the municipal group IL, Angelica da Teresa proposed that the PAN proposal be reformulated so that “before distributing these costs to the Lisbon City Council”, this could involve a network of veterinary clinics that could carry out social actions. a solution that leverages the installed capacity of CAL and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital.

PAN rejected IL’s proposal, stating that CAL was the end point and stating that none of the clinics it had the opportunity to contact were willing to cooperate in this regard.

António Morgado Valente also believes that “this leader is not very fond of animal protection,” pointing out that measures to check animals amount to a cost of 5,000 euros in Lisbon, praising the work of parish councils and noting that there is 50 thousand euros budgeted for 2023 for this area and which were not realized, so the funds could be used to create a hospital, as “there is a need to move this project forward.”

Lisbon City Council animal welfare board member Angelo Pereira (PSD) said the veterinary inspection measure submitted to the Vets Order has room for further development, indicating that the city council also has a food support network for families in need. , livestock farmers and envisages the opening of new CAL facilities in March.