A Life Dedicated To Animals: Seu Alberto
A simple man, but with a big heart and love for animals. Retired Seu Alberto, who lives in Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil, gave up comfort and many comforts to take in abandoned, sick and mistreated puppies. In this post, we’ll tell you a little bit about its inspiring story.
First, he started to shelter the dogs as he could, in the backyard of his house. Then he took them to a rented house on the coast of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, in the metropolitan region of Recife.
Today, he and his team of dedicated volunteers care for more than 120 dogs, most of them abandoned at the shelter door or rescued from the city streets.
Many arrive sick and need long and expensive surgeries, medicines and treatments. Partnerships with local veterinary clinics are not enough to maintain the shelter’s financial balance: they resort to donations, campaigns and godfathers and godmothers who help by donating money, feed, medicine or tests for the animals.
Shelter Seu Alberto: a refuge for stray dogs
More and more, needy animals arrived. The news spread quickly and many people started leaving litters of dogs, as well as sick or elderly animals, at Mr. Alberto’s doorstep.
The solution: get help. Thus, in 2004, the Sr. Alberto shelter was officially created, with the help of civil society that protects animals.
Better known as Abrigo do Seu Alberto, the institution has become a reference in Pernambuco because of the affection with which the dogs are treated. The younger ones are soon adopted, but the older ones, with special needs or chronic illnesses, stay.
Known as an “angel” by the shelter’s volunteers, Seu Alberto now takes care of more than 120 puppies, with the help of animal protectors.
Weak health does not prevent the fight for animals
At the age of 62, he recently underwent a heart transplant and, despite several cardiovascular problems, he continues to take care of all his furry friends with a lot of love.
Shelter Needs
Every day, more than 40 kg of feed are consumed at the shelter , in addition to medicines, cleaning and hygiene products for the dogs, and other costs, such as those related to neutering.
In order to handle all its activities, Abrigo do Sr. Alberto regularly organizes adoption events and fundraising campaigns on social networks and together with the main vehicles of communication in Recife.
For those who want to volunteer, the shelter also offers several opportunities. There are, for example, the “mutirões” for bathing and for walking the dogs. You can also help by sponsoring an animal, publicizing the shelter’s work on social media, with friends and family, or providing spaces for adoption events.
Seu Alberto, who used to work as a gluer, does not receive financial support from the government and needs to support himself with only a minimum wage (R$954.00). For shelter expenses, donations are used.
Importance of animal shelters
Do you know any animal shelters in your neighborhood or city? These institutions, spread throughout Brazil and around the world, provide an essential service for the care and protection of our furry friends.
In Rio de Janeiro, for example, the NGO Paraíso dos Focinhos does an excellent job taking care of abandoned animals. In addition to welcoming dogs, they also have areas for kittens and even mistreated horses.
Of course, a shelter is not the ideal environment for a pet to live. Often overcrowded, they are a noisy and busy environment that is difficult to get used to.
So most shelters work hard to get their animals adopted by a responsible and loving family. This is the life every animal should have.
One of the institution’s volunteers stated that often, when a puppy is adopted, it sleeps more than usual during the first few days in its new home. That’s because in the shelter they can’t sleep properly, because of the noise and lack of space.
So let’s support shelters and adoption events. The animals thank you!
