Everything You Need Know About Amigo Fiel, Portugal
Amigo Fiel is a dog shelter in Portugal, whose mission is to provide a nurturing and secure haven for dogs. They rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs that have been abandoned or neglected. They are driven by the belief in the right to happiness and well-being for all animals.
In Portugal, like in many other countries, thousands of dogs are abandoned or kept in poor conditions without basic healthcare. Many dogs that have owners are not sterilised and are allowed to roam the streets. There are a high number of abandoned puppies. Amigo Fiel works with the residents and authorities to rescue dogs abandoned on the street or in neglected situations and bring them to their shelter. These dogs then get all the loving care and medical attention necessary.
Each dog receives a full health check, vaccinations, microchip, anti-parasite treatments and sterilisation. The dogs are then assessed on behaviour and given social training to the best of their ability in a shelter kennel environment. This process helps the shelter to get to know the dogs’ characters, so they can be matched with the right home, which increases their chances at successful adoption and integration into their new home.
Amigo Fiel is a non-profit association and relies on the generosity of donations and the invaluable support of volunteers to sustain their mission. Amigo Fiel also works on educational programmes in schools.
Amigo Fiel at a Glance
Cost: Amigo Fiel does not have a fixed adoption fee but it does ask for a donation towards the amount required to prepare a dog for adoption (e.g. sterilisation surgery, vaccinations, anti-parasite treatments, microchip). You can pay extra and request additional health tests, for example, a snap4 blood test to check for the diseases Dirofilaria, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Leishmania. Amigo Fiel can help with booking transport to the UK with their preferred authorised transporter, but this payment must be agreed and paid direct to the transport company. Transport quotations are available on request.
Size: Amigo Fiel is a small organisation. They care for around 100 dogs with only 2 members of paid cleaning staff. The management team of 4 people is made up of unpaid volunteers. Yet, they are a determined and stable team with a backup of around 20 regular volunteers.
Location: Bombarral, Portugal. Visitors are welcome, but by appointment only.
Rescue Back Up: Amigo Fiel has no back-up rescue in the UK. They will be available by email support for advice and they expect to receive photos/video of the dog in their new home at regular intervals for the first 6 months.
Acceptance and no-kill policies: Amigo Fiel accepts all types of dogs into their shelter regardless of breed or age or medical condition. Amigo Fiel has a strict euthanasia policy meaning that no dogs will be killed in their care simply for need of space.
The Adoption Process
Amigo Fiel follows a structured adoption process to ensure the best match between dogs and adopters:
1. View Available Dogs: You can view all the available dogs on the Amigo Fiel website or social media. Profiles are brief including age and photo/video. More detailed information about character is sent on request.
2. Submit an Application: You then submit an adoption application, providing information about your home environment and what you are looking for in a dog. You can submit the application for a specific dog, or you can fill it out generally and let the organisation decide if they have any good matches for you. This is done via email.
3. Interview: A remote interview will also take place to discuss your experience and expectations, and to answer any questions you may have. You are welcome to arrange a visit to Portugal to meet the dogs.
4. Adoption Approval: If everything is successful, the adoption is approved. Amigo Fiel will assist you with arranging transport to the UK.
Conclusion
Amigo Fiel is a dedicated organisation that is making a clear impact on the lives of dogs in Portugal. They care deeply about the dogs in their care, so you can know that if you choose to adopt from them, your dog will have had a positive rescue and rehabilitation experience, and Amigo Fiel work hard to make sure each dog is a good match for their new home, meaning you can trust that the shelter is working with you to find the right dog for you. However, as Amigo Fiel does not offer a Rescue Back Up in the UK, you should consider what this means for you should your circumstances change.
You can find out more about Amigo Fiel on their website www.amigofielbombarral.com.