The stories of Ziro and Mike, two animals abandoned in their twilight years, are heartbreaking—but they’re also symptomatic of a deeper cultural issue. What strikes me most about their tales isn’t just the cruelty of their abandonment, but the sheer normalcy with which it’s accepted in Portugal. As Sandra Duarte Cardoso, president of SOS Animal, aptly puts it, ‘In our country, abandonment has been normalized.’ This isn’t just a legal or ethical problem; it’s a reflection of how society views animals—as disposable possessions rather than sentient beings.
Personally, I think this mindset is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of the human-animal bond. Animals aren’t objects to be discarded when inconvenient; they’re companions who rely on us for their entire lives. Yet, as Cardoso points out, people often treat them like outdated gadgets: useful until they’re not. What makes this particularly fascinating—and alarming—is how this attitude persists despite laws criminalizing abandonment. Since 2014, Portugal has punished such acts with fines or imprisonment, but enforcement remains weak. Why? Because the system treats animals as property, even in death. A microchip registered to a deceased owner means the administrative offense is issued to the dead—a bureaucratic loophole that lets the living walk free.
What many people don’t realize is that abandonment isn’t just a moral failing; it’s a symptom of systemic neglect. The post-pandemic surge in pet adoptions, followed by a wave of returns, highlights a troubling trend: impulse adoptions without long-term commitment. During Covid, people adopted pets for companionship, only to abandon them when life returned to ‘normal.’ This raises a deeper question: Are we treating animals as band-aids for our loneliness, or as lifelong partners?
From my perspective, the financial burden of pet ownership is another overlooked factor. Veterinary costs in the EU have skyrocketed, leaving many unable to afford care. Euthanasia, often seen as a last resort, becomes a default when treatment is out of reach. This isn’t just tragic—it’s a damning indictment of a society that prioritizes profit over compassion.
One thing that immediately stands out is Cardoso’s call for mandatory sterilization. It’s a bold proposal, but it addresses the root of the problem: overpopulation. Countries like Greece and Belgium have implemented similar measures, proving it’s not just feasible but effective. Yet, in Portugal, governments drag their feet, treating animal welfare as an afterthought. What this really suggests is a lack of political will—or worse, a disregard for the lives of animals.
If you take a step back and think about it, the normalization of abandonment isn’t just a Portuguese issue; it’s a global one. In many cultures, animals are still seen as commodities, not companions. But Portugal’s case is particularly glaring because it’s happening in a modern, EU-member state. This isn’t a problem of poverty or ignorance—it’s a problem of priorities.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the distinction Cardoso makes between ‘surrenders’ and ‘abandonments.’ Surrenders, while still heartbreaking, involve some level of responsibility. Abandonments, on the other hand, are acts of pure callousness. What’s chilling is how comfortable people are with the latter, even using it as blackmail against organizations like SOS Animal. Imagine threatening to abandon your child if someone doesn’t help you—it’s unthinkable. Yet, with animals, it’s disturbingly common.
This raises a broader question: How do we shift societal attitudes? Cardoso argues it starts with civic education, but I believe it goes deeper. We need to redefine our relationship with animals, moving from ownership to stewardship. They’re not ‘things’ to be discarded; they’re lives we’re responsible for.
In my opinion, the solution lies in a multi-pronged approach: stricter enforcement of existing laws, financial support for pet owners, and widespread education campaigns. But most importantly, we need a cultural shift. Animals aren’t possessions—they’re family. Until we internalize that, stories like Ziro’s and Mike’s will keep repeating.
What this really suggests is that abandonment isn’t just an animal welfare issue; it’s a mirror to our humanity. How we treat the vulnerable—whether human or animal—reveals our true character. Portugal’s struggle with this issue is a wake-up call, not just for the country, but for the world. It’s time to stop normalizing cruelty and start normalizing compassion.
