Portugal’s People-Animals-Nature party’s single MP has informed parliament that since 2001 it has been mandatory that all municipalities have a kennel for stray cats and dogs and that, after 15 years, only 180 of the 308 municipalities have such facilities.
PAN announced today that the Government has budgeted €1 million for the construction of municipal kennels in 2017, but that it rejected a proposal to reduce the VAT on pet food.
In a statement issued today, PAN said that António Costa's government had welcomed its proposed 2017 budget amendment that "provides support to municipalities in the construction of official collection centres for animals," a measure that it expects to be approved.
PAN’s MP, André Silva said there will be a survey on municipal kennels followed by a building programme using the 2017 budget of €1 million.
The objective of this measure is not to fund a kennel for each council as the budget is insufficient, but "to encourage municipalities to create decent centres to receive animals."
The Algarve’s mayors group, AMAL already have their own regional kennel plan and have started an analysis of the costs involved in creating two super-kennels, one in the Aljezur area and a second in Alcoutim that would end the haphazard nature and underinvestment in the current municipal kennel service.
PAN had put forward two additional amendments to the State Budget for 2017, the reduction of VAT on animal feed to 13% and the end of the VAT exemption granted to tickets to watch bullfight.
