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About ARCA Brasil
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ARCA’s philosophy
Is ARCA a vegetarian organization?
ARCA’s work is important, but not very well known. Why isn’t it more promoted?
ARCA’s work
Does ARCA collect abandoned animals?Does ARCA
have shelters?
Does ARCA give animals for adoption?
Does ARCA provide veterinarian services?
Animal protection
Is Brazil, a country ridden with social problems, able to care about the animal cause?
ARCA’s philosophy
Is ARCA a vegetarian organization?
ARCA Brasil isn’t a vegetarian organization. We promote that animals
that are to be used to produce food be treated in a more ethical,
humane, and less cruel way during all steps of the process: breeding,
use of fattening hormones, slaughtering and transportation.
Is ARCA against "carrocinha" (a municipal institution
that collects and exterminates part of the abandoned animals)?
ARCA Brasil strongly advocates that all possible efforts
be directed towards avoiding the euthanasia of healthy animals. What
currently occurs, not only in our country, but practically worldwide,
is an incessant fight to promote responsible ownership and the availability
of enough homes for animals. Unfortunately, this hasn’t yet become
a reality, and is actually a task to be carried on by several generations.
In São Paulo, the Zoonosis Control Center (the dreaded carrocinha)
receives about 30 thousand animals a year. Of those, approximately
20 thousand are killed. Even in the USA, where animal protection activities
are better organized and more widely supported by society, the number
of animals killed is much higher. However, these are only the official
numbers. It’s a known fact that when the number of confined animals
in a particular space is high (which, unfortunately, is a reality
in most public shelters), many end up dying while fighting for food
or territory.
Society therefore finds itself in a position where the abandoned animals
issue can be solved with actions that will likely take some time to
be fully implemented – such as birth control, to prevent unwanted
procreation; and the education of pet owners. So far, it has been
impossible to prevent the killing of abandoned animals – they would
be forced to live in overly crowded shelters, in overall very bad
conditions.
ARCA’s work is important, but not very well known. Why isn’t it more
promoted?
This is a big issue for ARCA. Although its work is significant
and well-recognized in Brazil and abroad, ARCA doesn’t have a big
enough structure right now to handle promotion and advertising on
a large scale. Such actions would demand resources that are not available
to ARCA at this time. It must be noted, however, that society’s awareness
of animal issues has significantly advanced in spite of the difficulties.
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ARCA’s Work
Does ARCA collect abandoned animals? Does ARCA have shelters?
No, ARCA doesn’t have shelters. Collecting and re-directing
animals for adoption is not part of ARCA’s work scope. ARCA organizes
and disseminates knowledge to society, influences public policies
and aims to build a fairer society for people and animals. Collecting
and sheltering animals may, at first, seem like the best solution;
but unfortunately, over time, shelters become excessively crowded.
Dogs and cats need appropriate feeding, accommodation, veterinarian
care, leisure time and affection. The excess of animals in shelters
doesn’t allow for each one to receive the necessary care.
The initiative of sympathetic individuals and animal protection organizations
to collect animals is a genuine act of solidarity; however, it’s not
enough in our current situation. Recent surveys show that in large
urban areas there’s a dog for every 5 inhabitants – of which about
10% live in the streets.
The likely destination of abandoned animals is a municipal shelter.
Once there, they will wait to be adopted, or, depending on their general
state of health, undergo euthanasia.
Does ARCA give animals for adoption?
No, for the same reason it doesn’t collect animals from the
streets or maintain shelters. ARCA’s job is to organize the knowledge
pertaining to animal issues in order to inform people about adoption,
according to the principles of responsible pet ownership. If you want
to adopt a pet, keep an open mind: there are many animals in search
of a home just like your own. A mixed-breed animal, even an adult
one, can be as excellent a companion as a puppy with a pedigree.
Before you adopt, make sure the animal has been checked by a veterinarian,
received anti-rabies and V-8 shots, as well as vermifuge. It’s also
very important to have the animal neutered in order to prevent unwanted
pregnancy and the perpetuation of the abandonment cycle.
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Does ARCA provide veterinarian services like neutering?
Not at ARCA’s office; however, the Solidary Veterinarian Program has
been set up by ARCA with the help of veterinarians who want to contribute
with their skills.
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Animal Protection
Is Brazil, a country ridden with social problems, able to care about
animal issues?
Yes. The well-known sensitivity of Brazilian people regarding animal
issues, as well as the growing industry interest for the pet market
can help generate attention to the problems in Brazil and abroad.
Brazil already has success stories that have influenced public policies
in other countries, such as the Population Control Program initiated
in Taboão da Serra, SP.
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