Four years and more than eight thousand rescued animals

In this new Program phase, cats and dogs from vacant area colonies are taken to accommodation space

Maceió, August 15, 2024 - Four years later, the Animal Support Program is proud to have rescued more than eight thousand animals and is now under a new phase: the challenge of finding a home for stray cats and dogs that lived in colonies in vacated areas in the neighborhoods of Mutange, Pinheiro, Bebedouro, Bom Parto, and Farol.

To ensure the well-being of these animals, the accommodation space at the Program's headquarters in Viçosa was expanded. Nearly 20,000 square meters were renovated to include an outdoor park for dogs to interact, as well as areas equipped with protective nets and stimulating circuits featuring scratching posts, walkways, and play niches for the felines. The number of individual spaces was also increased.

In the initial phase, the Program focused on the pets of families covered by the Financial Compensation and Relocation Support Program (PCF) and the animals of former residents who were permanently under the Program's care. With the newly vacated area, the focus has shifted to temporarily sheltering dogs and cats from these areas who are awaiting new homes.

Over the past four years, approximately five thousand sterilizations were performed, and more than eight thousand vaccine doses were administered alongside activities aimed at promoting responsible pet ownership. The Program marks a partnership between Braskem, the Federal University of Alagoas (Ufal), and the University Foundation for Extension and Research Development (Fundepes).

Abandoning animals is a crime
Pierre Barnabé Escodro, the program's technical coordinator and professor at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), explains that the Program's biggest challenge has been to prevent the abandonment of animals in vacated areas. "People come from other neighborhoods and abandon these animals here without realizing that this is a crime," he says.

Currently, in addition to the video monitoring conducted by the Braskem Security Center team, the Program receives direct support from the Environmental Crimes and Animal Protection Department, which handles reports of abandonment and mistreatment, a crime defined by Federal Law No. 14064/2020, which carries penalties of two to five years in prison and fines.

According to Pierre Escodro, education is crucial in addressing abandonment issues. "Working in public schools and conveying the message of responsible adoption and animal care to students has significantly contributed to raising awareness and promoting environmental education within the community," he notes.

Digital Adoption Channel
The animals in the Program are dewormed, neutered, and vaccinated, and are placed for adoption when possible. On the Instagram profile  @focinhoresponsavel , people interested in adopting have access to animals' photos, information about size and age, in addition to the adoption form. Currently, the Animal Support Program has 292 pets eligible for adoption (77 dogs and 215 cats).

The project provides free transportation to their new homes anywhere in Alagoas. Each individual can adopt up to two animals, provided they can ensure their health and well-being. Since June, the channel has helped over 920 dogs and cats find new homes. Please click here to access the profile.

Commitments to Maceió
Since 2019, the company has been implementing a series of initiatives and programs, in accordance with agreements signed with authorities, aimed at addressing, mitigating, and compensating for the impacts of ground subsidence.

To facilitate understanding and monitoring of these and other initiatives and programs undertaken, the company has consolidated these efforts into ten commitments spanning social, urban, and environmental domains on a single online platform ( http://www.braskem.com/compromissosmaceio ).

Braskem developed the Animal Support Program in partnership with the Equine and Integrative Health Research and Extension Group at the Federal University of Alagoas (GRUPEQUI-UFAL). This initiative reflects Braskem's top commitment to Maceió - ensuring public safety and providing social support to affected residents.