Cadela Carlota marks 18 years of rescue

There are few better reminders of why community support matters than seeing two tiny puppies, rescued from a rubbish bin just a few weeks ago, now growing stronger every day.

Kitai and Viva, now three weeks old, have already captured the hearts of many of our supporters. When they first arrived, little Kitai was so small and fragile that we feared he might not survive. Thankfully, he proved to be a real fighter. After veterinary checks confirmed that both puppies are healthy, they are now putting on weight, playing together and beginning to show their mischievous personalities.

They are still too young for adoption and continue to be bottle-fed around the clock by our dedicated volunteer, Ani. Raising orphaned puppies is a demanding task, requiring feeds every few hours, day and night, so we are incredibly grateful for her commitment.

Their story would not have had such a positive start without the generosity of our supporters. Sandra Moorman donated €100 towards their microchips and first vaccinations and has also been a regular supporter by providing much-needed puppy milk. Birgit de Greve celebrated her birthday by asking friends to donate to Cadela Carlota instead of buying gifts, raising an amazing €300. Around €200 of this will help cover the puppies’ transition to solid food. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us give vulnerable animals the best possible chance.

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, kitten season remains one of the busiest and most challenging times of the year for the shelter. Every week, more unwanted litters are being found, stretching our volunteers, foster homes and resources to the limit.

One litter that has already benefited from the kindness of our supporters is now ready to find permanent homes. Four-month-old Stella is a gentle and slightly timid kitten, rescued from the streets alongside her mother and siblings. Although she is the shyest of the litter, we know that with a little patience she will blossom into a wonderful companion. She is vaccinated, microchipped and already spayed.

Her sister Suzie is also looking for a family. At nearly four months old, she has grown into a calm, affectionate kitten who is fully vaccinated and microchipped. As with all our cats, sterilisation is included as part of our adoption programme.

If you have been thinking about adopting a cat, now is the perfect time to visit the shelter. By giving Stella or Suzie the loving home they deserve, you’ll not only change their lives but also help create space for the many more vulnerable kittens that continue to arrive during this difficult kitten season.

Finally, please save the date. On Wednesday, July 29, Cadela Carlota will be celebrating its 18th birthday at The Collab Bar in Lagos, starting from 5pm. We’ll have shelter merchandise available and plenty of opportunities to celebrate nearly two decades of rescuing and rehoming animals. More details will be announced soon, but we’d love you to join us and help mark this special milestone. Every supporter has played a part in those 18 years, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you.

[email protected] | cadela-carlota.com

Jonathan Mills

Contributor for the Portugal Resident