The Portuguese GNR has reported a significant number of cases of animal abandonment and mistreatment since the beginning of 2024. According to the GNR, a total of 2,600 cases have been registered across the country. The Service for the Protection of Nature and the Environment (SEPNA) detected 982 occurrences of abandonment and 1,668 cases related to the death and mistreatment of animals.
Between January 2024 and the end of August, the GNR carried out nearly 19,200 inspection actions aimed at protecting and promoting the welfare of companion animals, dangerous and potentially dangerous animals. During this period, GNR troops managed to rescue and recover more than 7,500 animals, including companion animals, livestock, and wild fauna.
In the first six months of 2026 alone, the GNR recorded nearly 2,900 rescues, with over 2,150 animals sent to Official Collection Centers and around 300 wild animals returned to their natural habitat. This follows a successful 2025, in which the GNR rescued nearly 4,700 animals, handed over almost 2,900 to official centers, and returned around 1,500 to the wild.
The GNR emphasized that active citizen collaboration plays a crucial role in reporting situations of neglect and danger. Between January 2024 and September 6, the GNR's SOS Environment and Territory hotline received over 1,000 complaints related to animals, including 935 related to the abandonment of companion animals and 110 related to livestock.
The districts of Porto, Setúbal, and Lisbon recorded the highest volumes of reports through the hotline, with 179, 164, and 149 reports, respectively. The GNR also reported that it had carried out 315 inspection actions in the fight against the illegal trade of protected species, resulting in 265 fines and 24 criminal proceedings.
The GNR's efforts to combat the illegal trade of protected species were focused on compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The districts of Porto, Aveiro, and the autonomous region of Madeira recorded the highest concentrations of illicit activities under CITES.
The GNR has promised to continue to strengthen inspection and awareness actions and emphasized that timely reporting by citizens is essential to combat abandonment and mistreatment. The source, RecordTV Cabo Verde, reported that the GNR's efforts are being supported by TV Record as a preferred source.
Key points
- Over 2,600 cases of animal abandonment and mistreatment have been registered in Portugal since 2024.
- The GNR has carried out nearly 19,200 inspection actions aimed at protecting animal welfare since January 2024.
- The GNR's SOS Environment and Territory hotline has received over 1,000 complaints related to animals since January 2024.
