Animal rights | Canidrome, Anima agree to cooperate despite previous spats

Albano Martins and Angela Leong

Following  public outcry over the greyhounds’ welfare, the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome has partnered with animal rights group Anima Macau to accommodate the remaining 553 greyhounds at the Canidrome – a project which will cost some MOP25 million a year to operate.

In a press conference on Friday, the two parties announced the submission of The International Center for the Rehoming of Greyhounds plan  to the government.

According to the plan, the facility will be located on a private lot in Largo de Pac On. 

Angela Leong, executive director of the Canidrome, made a financial commitment to subsidize the rent for the standalone building which costs MOP800,000 per month.

The two parties believe that the center, which will be a non-profit organization, and its environment will provide better living conditions for the greyhounds in accordance with international standards.  

During the press conference, it was noted that the center would have 10 vets, along with the current 129 Canidrome employees if the proposal is approved by authorities.

“This is a place where they can rest and enjoy their life. They can rest there before they are adopted and we also have professionals who can take care of them in the center,” said Albano Martins, president of Anima Macau.

The animal rights activist described the project as “very good news for the greyhounds,” adding that the two parties are leaving behind their previous disputes.

Anima Macau had previously slammed the Canidrome for failing to provide their plans for the retired greyhounds before.

“Now we are happy because we are involved, and we are involved in good faith. I expect that everything will go on in good faith. […]. I don’t want to talk about the past, now we are looking at the future,” said the animal rights activist.

All expenses incurred during the period for feeding and caring of the greyhounds will be borne by the Canidrome.

Meanwhile, Leong stressed that the project is the Canidrome’s promise to the public on its responsibility to take care of the retired greyhounds.

“From the first day, [we] have been indicating [to the public] the responsibility we have to our greyhounds, that we will take care of them until the end of their lives. And this is what we insisted,” said Leong.

“That is why we have this new scheme. We fulfill the promises we had made and [our] full responsibility.” Leong expressed that the center is willing to work with international organizations and receive suggestions and evaluations on the facilities’ standards and services.

Leong, who had been threatened with a fine under animal protection laws earlier, reiterated that the Canidrome would cover the operations cost of the center.

“Love is the bridge between people, and love is also the bridge between people and animals [thus] whatever the cost, the Canidrome will cover it,” said Leong.

“I trust that Mr Albano and his team can take care of them well.”Martins, who will run the center for a minimum of two years, also announced that those whose adoption applications have been approved are required to pay MOP1,500 per month while waiting for the greyhounds’ quarantine periods to end.

He also added that the new facility would be open to the public and prospective adopters so they could bond with the dogs in the center’s activity area.

In a statement issued yesterday, Albano Martins said that “Anima and Angela Leong are now partners” and that “the period of fight has finished.” Claiming that Anima “works for free in this partnership,” Martins said that “the decision of putting an end to the difficult past was by Anima’s own initiative, not forced by anyone, not paid by anyone!”

IACM gives preliminary approval to plan

THE CIVIC and Municipal Affairs Bureau has preliminarily approved a new plan for the relocation of the greyhounds from the Canidrome racing track, which means that the dogs can stay on the current premises during this period. Officials have given the Canidrome until today to accept the new conditions for a 60-day extension. The Canidrome previously said it will take at least 60 days to complete improvement work on facilities at the new center