From the most difficult moments to the happiest, a dog will be by your side with its paws and loving eyes ready to comfort and calm you down. They are our loyal companions and confidants, an inexhaustible source of love and joy. How is it possible that so many of these fantastic animals are deprived of a happy life and love from a family?

Despite being a crime, animal abandonment is a reality in Portugal. According to the “Jornal Publico”, in 2022, 41994 dogs and cats arrived at official collection centers, and the real abandonment figures are expected to be even higher.

In response to this problem, Agora Aveiro brought together its volunteers to again support AMA - Amigos do Abrigo Quintã do Loureiro. Although this association provides shelter, food and affection to many four-legged friends, it is challenging to provide the care and individual attention that dogs need and deserve. Therefore, on Saturday morning, May 11th, at 9:30 am, we invited citizens to bring their “CãoPanheiro” to, together with our volunteers and some of the AMA dogs, take a “CãoMinhada” through the parks of the City of Aveiro, ending with a “CãoVivio” where the dogs were introduced in a moment of sharing stories by association AMA, involved in a picnic with food for adults and for bigeyes.

We challenged all participants to bring food and other essential goods to donate. Agora Aveiro delivered kits with toys and dog biscuits gently provided by the project sponsors - Orniex, Dirty Dog and Patinhas no Recreio - to all the people who accompanied us on this beautiful morning. Uniting everyone's efforts, the collected goods were delivered to AMA.

The response to this action was positive, a joyful and peaceful walk was provided in which seven goofy friends and twenty dog walkers were present. It was more than just a walk, it was a celebration of the unconditional love between humans and their furry best friends.

May this moment of the “Projeto Au-Au” serve to remind us to look at confined animals and see that, in each pair of pleading eyes, there is a living being looking for an opportunity to live a full and happy life alongside a family. By opening our hearts and the doors of our homes to one of those dogs, we not only change their life for the better, but we also receive, in return, an infinite source of love and gratitude.

Thanks to everyone who was present and helped with this cause. We also appeal to everyone who wants to give and receive love to go through AMA and adopt, responsibly, a four-legged friend!

The “Au-Au Project” is part of Agora Aveiro’s “Random Acts of Kindness” project. It was carried out in partnership with AMA - AMigos do Abrigo Quintã do Loureiro. It has Orniex as “Golden Partner”, Dirty Dog, GoldPet, Biobom and Patinhas no Recreio as “Silver Partners” and the Agrupamento de Escolas Mário Sacramento, Agrupamento de Escolas José Estêvão, Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro and Agrupamento de Escolas Rio Novo do Príncipe as partners. It has the support of Município de Aveiro and IPDJ - Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude, I.P..