A video recorded by security cameras in Ponta Grossa, near the Reference Center for Animals at Risk (CRAR), shows employees of Clinicão, the company responsible for management, releasing the animals onto the street after care. The footage generated controversy in the city.
Clinicão won a bid to care for the city's animals. The initial amount to be tendered was R$ 32 million and the contracted amount was finalized at R$ 22 million. The contract, however, was the subject of the Special Investigative Commission (CEI) in the Ponta Grossa City Council due to alleged steering and put the company in the opposition’s sights.
For councilor Guilherme Mazer (PT), abandoning the animals is problematic not only out of disrespect toward the pets, but also because it hampers oversight of the procedures already carried out.
“This is the face of Elizabeth’s government (Elizabeth Schmidt, the city’s mayor, of União Brasil): abandonment. We cannot conduct oversight; luckily there was a camera recording,” he criticized.
The company, in turn, defended itself by saying that “the animals received full veterinary care, including emergency clinical care, medication, spaying/neutering, and vaccination.”
The statement goes on to explain that “returning the animals to their place of origin does not constitute abandonment. This is the CED procedure (Capture, Sterilization and Return), an ethical and internationally recognized strategy for managing the population of community animals, which provides for spaying/neutering, vaccination, and subsequent return after a safe recovery.”
Julia Sobkowiak
However, councilwoman Teka dos Animais (União Brasil) went to the place where the dogs were left and confirmed that they did not live there before the clinic’s care. “Given the seriousness of the situation, we were on site, spoke with residents, and received information that the animals do not belong to that region. According to the protocol, after the procedure and the proper recovery period, the animals must be returned to the same place from which they were removed, ensuring safety and follow-up,” said the lawmaker.
The animals were treated on February 20 and the release took place on March 5. The company states that, despite overcrowding, the dogs remained hospitalized longer than expected to ensure safety.
“CRAR currently operates near its maximum capacity (80 spots), which requires responsible management of spaces to prioritize critical cases and animals that cannot return, in addition to holding adoption events.”
The Ponta Grossa city hall, in turn, stated that it acts “strictly within the terms of the Law” and that, in these situations, it is common to return the animals to the places where they usually roam.
