NGO rescues abandoned cats and helps them find a new home

To alleviate this recurring situation, people are creating mechanisms to help these animals, and one of them is the ONG Salva Gatos, an institution focused on animal protection.

Learn a little more about this beautiful work that is so necessary in these times when people, despite the law, are increasingly abandoning animals to their fate.

The idea for the NGO came about in December 2015 and was born from the efforts of an independent protector concerned about the loose animals reproducing in an uncontrolled way, thus perpetuating the situation of abandonment, which unfortunately is a serious problem in the city of São Paulo.

Purpose

The purpose of Salva Gatos is to rescue cats in situations of abandonment, mistreatment, or street life and prepare them for responsible adoption. The headquarters are in the Morumbi neighbourhood of São Paulo’s West Side, which is home to the majority of the protected cats.

Operation of the NGO

The felines are rescued and initially undergo a veterinary evaluation; health problems identified include those involving the skin, respiratory tract, eyes, malnutrition, fractures, and injuries. After treatment, all go through the castration process and are prepared for adoption, going through the following steps: vaccination and testing for IVF, feline immunodeficiency or feline HIV, FeLV, and feline leukemia. Afterwards, they are dewormed and removed. After all of this, the cat is ready to take part in adoption events.

Adoption places

Cats can be adopted at the main headquarters of Cobasi, located at Av. Giovanni Gronchi, 5411-Morumbi, São Paulo, and in other places such as temporary homes, and during events that take place in three stores of the Cobasi chain, which are: Cobasi Morumbi, from Wednesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm; Cobasi Portal do Morumbi; and Cobasi Rebouças, on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm.

In the seven years of this work in favour of abandoned cats, almost 3,000 stray cats were rescued. All were neutered and found a home.

This work, despite being in full swing, faces some difficulties, and Fábio Martinelle, promoter of adoption events at ONG Salva Gatos, talks about them.

“Unfortunately, the difficulties are numerous, starting with public and/or private bodies that do not support the animal cause.” So far, we have not been able to find sponsors among companies or individuals to maintain the work, the shelter, and the team. Expenses to provide quality of life and prepare cats for adoption are huge: rent, wages, hygiene and cleaning materials, medicines, food, water, and electricity. “The number of animals sheltered is large, and without support it is difficult for us to expand, and the demand is great.”

Fábio Martinelle also talks about the happiness it brings to see the number of cats that have already been rescued from the streets, assisted by them, and adopted. Today, these cats have a home, affection, and quality of life, and they live with dignity with families who love them. This work should be carried out by public agencies and also by companies, but this does not happen.

“Efforts are daily; Animal Protection’s fight is not easy, but each life saved is a victory,” he says.

Thanks

Fábio Martinelle thanks everyone who somehow contributed to and collaborated with the work of ONG Salva Gatos, the people who are part of the team, and, especially all the adopters who bring happiness to so many abandoned cats. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to Cobasi Network for their faith and support in the work I’ve done. Our partnership spans over seven years.

“Without this support and the spaces provided in the stores, the results would not have been possible. “Don’t buy, adopt,”, concludes the promoter of cat adoption events.

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Note: The cats shown in the photos for adoption are subject to availability