Federal deputy Bruno Ganem (Podemos-SP), author of the highest amount reserved for the environmental ministry since 2021, in the amount of R$ 16.7 million, directed the funds to a project by an animal defense institute based in Rio de Janeiro and says that the institution should carry out 60 thousand castrations of dogs and cats in cities in São Paulo.
According to the congressman, the amount was separated in the federal Budget (committed, in technical jargon) to a single institute because an order from the Department of Protection, Defense and Human Rights, linked to the environmental department, determined that each parliamentarian could only address amendments to one NGO, due to the limitation of the department’s capacity to enter into new agreements.
The amount allocated to this program corresponds to almost all of the deputy’s freely allocated budget, since half of the R$37.8 million to which each parliamentarian is entitled in amendments needs to be invested in health.
“Honestly, if I could use the health funds [para castração de cães e gatos]I would use it too”, said Ganem in an interview with Sheet.
On October 11th, the Golias Institute published a post on social media stating that it had begun delivering 10,000 castrations in the city of Jundiaí, in the interior of São Paulo, made possible with amendment resources.
“The Golias Institute will take a big step forward in the animal cause where in the city of Jundiaí, under a parliamentary amendment by deputy Bruno Ganem, together with mayor Gustavo Martinelli, we will deliver 10 thousand castrations, which means our animals benefit”, wrote the profile.
The deputy stated that castrations will also take place in his hometown, Itapetininga, and in municipalities such as Campinas, Sorocaba, Taboão da Serra, Ipojuca and Embu das Artes, in addition to the capital of São Paulo.
In the last municipal elections, Campinas and Sorocaba elected councilors for the pet cause who took the surname Ganem “borrowed” from the deputy — Herbert and Rodolfo Ganem, respectively. In addition to them, Lucas Ganem was elected councilor in Belo Horizonte and Simone Ganem, in São Paulo.
The deputy confirms that everyone who uses the surname is people very close to his mandate and personal relationships. Bruno’s mother, Clarice Ganem, was elected state deputy for São Paulo in 2021.
The president of the Institute for the Protection and Defense of Animals I Am a Witness to Goliath, Greicy Taranto, also owns two veterinary clinics in Rio de Janeiro.
One of the establishments is in Sepetiba, a neighborhood in the west of Rio, 425 km from the capital of São Paulo. The reporter remained in front of the address for 30 minutes, on a Thursday afternoon, and observed veterinary care for a dog. There were also birds inside the unit.
The other veterinary unit is located on an avenue in Santa Cruz, in the same region. The identification of the Goliath hospital is the painting on a wall. On the networks, the space shows care for dogs, cats and other animals, such as horses.
One of the employees stated that private veterinary units finance the work of the institute, which carries out rescues, rehabilitation and adoption of animals.
In response to the report, the person responsible for the institute, Greicy Taranto, stated that “the Golias Institute never received any funds from parliamentary amendments”.
The entity signed a collaboration agreement with the MMA to implement a castration program and the amendment is in the commitment phase, with resources reserved but not yet disbursed, according to official budget data portals.
Greicy stated that “the institution’s role is exclusively technical, responsible for coordinating and supervising Castramóvel’s actions [veículo nos quais esterilizações são realizadas]” in São Paulo.
The publication thanks Flávio Ganem, former municipal secretary for the Protection and Defense of Animals in Rio. Flávio remained in office from 2023 to 2024. In the last municipal elections he was a candidate for councilor for Avante, but was not elected. Flávio’s social networks have videos in which he records animal rescues with Greicy.
Flávio was contacted by message, but did not respond.
Representative Bruno Ganem cited great proximity to Flávio, who also adopted his surname during his political career. When asked whether Flávio had influence in choosing the Golias Institute to receive the resources, the parliamentarian confirmed. “There’s no doubt that he participated a lot in the discussion, but the final decision was mine,” he says.
In two videos of the castration in Jundiaí, Bruno Ganem, alongside Greicy, states that the institute predicts 60,000 castrations in the state of São Paulo.
“I received with great joy the invitation to manage and supervise the castration team that will operate throughout the state of São Paulo,” Greicy told the reporter.
The registration of the Eu Sou Testemunha do Golias institute with the Federal Revenue Service has an opening date of 2017, with activities such as restaurants and similar facilities, general stores, canteens, laundries and goods storage.
Greicy was asked about the list of activities at the CNPJ, but did not respond. The deputy stated that he was unaware of the institute presenting other activities in the Revenue registry and attributed this to a difficulty in formally characterizing the activities of NGOs focused on animals.
