A small step towards building our shelter

Another step towards a big dream. Our children need a new roof, a shelter, a house, let's start a project. The change of facilities has to be done so that we can comply with ICNF standards.

In order to continue our project, we have to change premises, as the space where we are currently located does not have all the necessary conditions to be able to collect more animals (to comply with all ICNF standards). The Sintra City Council gave us a plot of land to build the Association's headquarters, but we have one year to present and start a project. About a month has already passed, and we already have a plan to present and submit. We are waiting for a meeting at the City Council to follow up. We are going to start this PPL to be able to come up with some of the funds we will need to continue the project. It is just a drop in the ocean, but we have to start somewhere. Throughout this project, we will need your help, as this dream can only come true with everyone's contribution. We will need a landscape architect. Is there one out there? :)

O nosso doce Cleo

About the author

The association was born from a dream. Sónia is an animal lover and has been involved in animal causes since she can remember, with her main focus being cats. Little by little, she has been creating conditions to improve the lives of nobody's cats.

She started by building shelters, and at home she would take in the sweetest cats to give them up for responsible adoption. However, as more and more sweet cats needed to be rehabilitated, she decided to rent a space to have better conditions to take them in, since she could no longer do it at home alone. In the middle of the pandemic, Sónia rented a space. It was a huge risk, but her dream of helping nobody's cats was even bigger.

Four years ago, Sónia's dream came true with the help of several friends.
The Sintra Cat Village Association was set up a few months after Sónia rented the first space. Over the years, many people have joined this project and some of them are Sónia's right-hand man. The Association has had its ups and downs; there are days when we cry a lot, but there are also days when we smile a lot.

With the number of requests for help to foster kittens and the increasing number of abandoned animals, the space where the Association was located no longer met the necessary conditions for the well-being of our boys and in January 2023 we moved to a larger space with better conditions. However, we know that we need to make improvements to have better conditions.

Our struggle is daily and our financial difficulties are many, because with more than 120 adult cats, the expenses are not easy to bear considering that we only survive on donations.

Every month we are responsible for:

• Rent - €770
• Electricity, water and internet (so we can access the PC) - +-350€
• Cleaning - €500 Cleaning is very important and fundamental in a shelter. Unfortunately, due to a lack of volunteers, we have to resort to external services to ensure daily cleaning.
• Food - €750
• Patés - +-1,800€, As we can't control the food each one eats, with the paté we know what they are eating, the math is easy to do for 120 cats (some eat more than one paté or others eat a special paté for 1€...) at 0.50€ each paté gives 60€ per day x 31 days gives 1860€
• Veterinarians - This part is the hardest of all. Last year it was more than 40 thousand euros. We have already calculated the amount for the first 4 months of this year and the amount was 14,778.08 euros (or around 3,700 euros/month).

After 4 years dedicating ourselves to this cause, after 4 years giving our boys a home and after having found permanent homes for so many who have passed through our path, we do not want to throw in the towel, we do not want to give up this fight, we want to continue to do our best for them.

Cor, conforto, harmonia é o que queremos continuar a dar a estes meninos

Budget and due dates

The funds raised will be used to advance the project for the new home of our protégés.

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