According Pedroso, the teaching institutions of medicine and veterinary nursing “are equipped with human resources and equipment” to help meet this need.

This National Health System for animals at risk is designed to respond to all types of animals in the care of associations, collection centres, municipalities and families in need.

“This help is not just for dogs and cats, it is for animals, she stressed, in statements to the Lusa, who gave the example of horses or cattle that may need to be assisted.

Laurentina Pedroso stressed that it is not a model of support “for everyone”, but “for animals at risk”, aimed at social aid and that “a project of this magnitude must be under the purview of the State”.

Pedroso said that more than one million euros is available to involve faculties in supporting animal health and funds are allocated for the entire project.

“This matter needs to be resolved, in my opinion, by the end of this year,” said Laurentina Pedroso, also director of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universidade Lusófona.