“You’re bound by more than a leash” and “You’re bound by more than a pretty face” are the two slogans with which the Penedès Pet Welcome Centre wants to raise awareness among animal owners to prevent abandonment. The centre has launched this campaign on social networks to inform the public about the consequences of animal abandonment and promote responsible adoption.

One of the main purposes of the campaign is to present alternatives to abandonment, often unknown to many owners. The main reasons for not keeping animals are uncontrolled breeding, behavioural problems of the animal and changes in the economic or housing conditions of the owners. The CAAD listens to each case of people who contact the centre because they cannot continue to keep an animal and explains the options they have, depending on each situation. For example, in the case of behavioural problems, a trainer can be contacted to help them change this behaviour, or in the case of elderly people entering a residential home, an attempt can be made to find a family that will look after the animal and even take it to visit the elderly owner, maintaining the emotional bond.

The text “Don’t abandon him. You have alternatives” accompanies the posters of the campaign, which reminds us of the bonds and commitments that are established between animals and their owners. Through a series of videos that can be seen on the social networks of @caadpenedes, the staff of the center explain specific cases, such as that of Khem and Baco, two puppies that ended up tied up on the street due to lack of counselling prior to their adoption, and uncontrolled breeding. Or that of La Trufa, an old dog who ended up in the centre due to the separation of her owners and because neither of them could keep her. True stories of animals waiting for a new home.

Adoption procedure

With this initiative, the CAAD Penedès also wants to fight against the chronic over-occupation that the centre suffers from, and encourage the adoption of dogs and cats that have been living there for years. Throughout the campaign, candidates will also be presented to be adopted. The CAAD manages the animals with the utmost care, providing them with veterinary care, food and affection, with the aim of finding them a new home. To start the adoption process, you can visit the website www.caad.mancomunitat.cat to see the animals that the centre welcomes and arrange an adoption visit to meet the candidates. The centre’s qualified staff advises you and evaluates the compatibility between the adopter and the dog or cat, to ensure a successful and lasting adoption