PETZ WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

My name is Joel Machado, I am a portuguese businessman and entrepreneur. Since 2010, I have been helping to rescue abandoned animals and have contributed to helping animal protection associations. In 2017 I opened my first pet store, where our philosophy is based on 3 pillars:

- we do not sell animals, we encourage the adoption of abandoned animals

- we are specialized in animal nutrition, we only sell quality food that is suitable for each breed, each species and each specific animal

- we strive daily to inform and train pet owners for the specific needs of each animal, so that the owner can always provide the best for their pet

In 2019 I created the PETZ brand in Portugal, which aims to be much more than a brand associated with a pet store.

In 2021 I opened the first PETZ store in Spain, where we intend to continue with the same model and the same

Every year, both in Portugal and now in Spain, we run campaigns to offer a few tones of feed to animal protection associations. But we want to go further...

Now, in 2022, the need arises to take a giant step forward and found the Petz Wildlife Foundation. This non-profit project has two strands:

- support the protection of endangered species and their habitats

- support the protection of abandoned animals

Every year, in Portugal and Spain, several hundred thousand animals are abandoned, for the most varied reasons, but above all, due to economic difficulties.?

SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES IN NEED

The economic difficulties of families, along with the inability to guarantee essential goods and services, such as food or medical-veterinary treatments for animals, are currently the two main causes that lead to abandonment in Portugal and Spain.

In fact, needs such as food and animal health are quite high expenses for pet owners. The inability to guarantee them ends up leading many families to be forced to deliver their animals to the Official Collection Centers (municipal kennels, to animal protection associations or even to abandon them on the public road).

The Petz Wildlife program aims to prevent such abandonment from happening by supporting families in a situation of proven economic need.

SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS

Petz Wildlife realized that there is in Portugal and Spain, particularly in large cities, a significant amount of homeless people who take care of animals.

From experience in the field, it appears that these animals are, for the most part, very well cared for, despite the street being their home.

Petz Wildlife will accompany their owners and support these animals, which are one of the great sources of affection for people who live homeless, in situations of great vulnerability.

These dogs and cats are family and Petz Wildlife will work daily to keep families together. The animals of homeless people are part of a life project and the affective bond they have with their tutors is an important stimulus that can be a driver of change. The responsibility required of a pet owner is significant for their empowerment and autonomy, so it is often through the emotional connection with their animal that the person gains strength to face problems.

In their daily work, most institutions in the country build the path for their reintegration with the users. However, given the lack of social responses that are prepared to also receive four-legged friends, this path rarely includes companion animals.

SUPPORTING THE ANIMAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATIONS

Portugal has more than 335 animal support entities. Most of them dedicate themselves exclusively to fostering and adoption: they collect stray animals or animals that people abandon, take care of them and try to promote their adoption.

Experience on the ground reveals that most of these associations have deficient structures, both in terms of facilities, resources or even manpower, often resorting exclusively to the work of volunteers.

Petz Wildlife Association Support Program aims to help these entities ensure the well-being of the animals they are in charge of, providing the following support: vaccination, sterilization, electronic identification and deworming. These aids vary throughout the year and are always conditioned by Petz Wildlife's financial capacity.

VETERINARY SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES IN NEED

In 2022, we want to open our first veterinary space to support animals and families in need. In order to fulfill this wish, we need to raisea round €50,000 to go ahead with the opening of this space.

WILDLIFE AND NATURE PROTECTION

We want to start to collaborate more actively in the protection of endangered species and their habitats, mainly in species native to Portugal and Spain, but also with other environmental projects and the protection of fauna and flora in other parts of the globe.

If you want to know more or make a donation, please check our website: www.petzwildlife.org

Store: www.petzwildlife.store

Fundraising: https://fundrazr.com/71xWD2?ref=ab_eB4VNa