Feeding animals on public roads seems, at first glance, to be a harmless gesture, but in many Portuguese municipalities this practice can result in high fines. Several local authorities have started to include specific limitations in their urban hygiene regulations and, in some cases, the penalties reach significant amounts.
In recent years, the trend has been clear. Several municipalities have been imposing rules that restrict the placing of food on public roads, especially when this action leads to the appearance of pests or the formation of large groups of birds. According to Ekonomista, a website specializing in finance and economics, there are municipalities that impose fines of more than a thousand euros when the infraction causes obvious dirt or leads to complaints from residents.
Why so many restrictions
City councils explain that they do not intend to penalize the goodwill of those who seek to help street animals. The objective is to avoid public health problems and preserve urban balance. When food remains are left in inappropriate places, conditions are created that are favorable to the appearance of rats, cockroaches and other pests.
The concentration of pigeons increases the risk of disease transmission and, in historic areas, bird feces accelerate the wear and tear of buildings. In residential areas, the dependence of animals on food left by private individuals compromises hygiene conditions.
Each local authority decides how to regulate these situations. There are municipalities with more moderate warnings and others where the value of fines rises quickly when the practice poses a health risk or causes damage to urban space.
Where is it prohibited and what are the consequences
There is no national law that deals with this matter uniformly. Therefore, the rules vary from municipality to municipality. Lisbon, Porto, Cascais, Sintra and other municipalities have already included the prohibition of feeding animals on public roads in their cleaning and hygiene regulations. To avoid surprises, the most prudent thing is to consult the municipal regulations of your place of residence.
The most cited case is that of Oeiras. Article 79 of the Urban Waste Management, Cleaning and Hygiene Service Regulation establishes that placing food in public spaces that could attract stray animals constitutes an administrative offence. Fines vary between 50 euros and 8 thousand euros, depending on the severity of the situation.
How to help without breaking the rules
The fact that there are prohibitions does not mean that stopping helping is the only option. There are legal and safe alternatives that allow you to support animals without compromising public health. One of them is to collaborate with associations that monitor duly registered cat colonies. Another involves participating in municipal programs that ensure sterilization and controlled feeding.
It is also possible to help caregivers authorized by local authorities, who follow hygiene rules and regular monitoring. For those who prefer to support indirectly, contributions to shelters allow food and care to be applied in an organized context.
According to , these solutions reconcile support for animals with the need to keep public spaces safe and balanced, reducing risk situations and health problems.
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