Near Christmas 2024, the animal rescue and protection association Os Patudos found a dog tied to a post in São Silvestre, Coimbra. Now, almost a year later, the small dog named Noel has finally found a new owner.
On December 17 of the previous year, the association shared the story on its Facebook page, describing the scene as “the saddest Christmas image.”
In the photograph, the dog can be seen sitting on wooden pallets, tied with what seems to be a leash, to a post. Behind him, a tree shines with Christmas lights, illuminating the dog, who appears to have a sad expression.
“In images like this, the lighting brings sadness and anguish,” the association remarked. “The glow of Christmas lights should be dark for people who exhibit these shameful attitudes,” it added.
“It is impossible to remain indifferent to the look of the little dog we named Noel, tied to an illuminated tree – a true contrast that leaves our hearts heavy with sadness.”
The association claims that the person who abandoned the dog called the kennel and the National Republican Guard (GNR) to rescue Noel, but “nothing was done,” leaving the animal “tied all day.”
“If it weren’t for a ‘kind soul’ who couldn’t leave him there to die in the cold…”
This “kind soul” alerted Os Patudos, who rescued the dog and named him Noel. A year later, the association recalls the story, revealing that the canine has now been adopted.
“Noel was adopted by Ricardo, who lives in Alhandra [municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, district of Lisbon]. Because when there is love, distance is not a problem,” the association announced. “Some stories have very happy endings!”
Data from the party People, Animals, and Nature (PAN) provided last year, indicates that an average of 115 animals are abandoned each day. However, this figure only accounts for animals rescued by kennels, not including those from associations like Os Patudos or IRA (Animal Intervention and Rescue), one of the most well-known in this field.
Since 2014, animal abandonment has been considered a crime under Portuguese law. Nonetheless, the numbers have been increasing over the years. Between 2021 and 2022, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, the number of abandonments rose from 945 to 1,166.
Overall, it is estimated that the number of animals in kennels across the country is around 80,000. Associations like Os Patudos, therefore, call for the adoption of abandoned animals over purchasing them.
In their latest Facebook post, the association urges citizens to help care for abandoned animals by volunteering at these facilities: “It feels so good to help!”
