The 5th edition of the Social Responsibility Day took place on 29 May, at Técnico – Oeiras campus. The event was supported by the Oeiras City Hall and focused on animal welfare, highlighting the responsibility of society as a whole.

The event was attended by animal welfare organisations, such as Animalife and Eu Cãosigo, with the aim of raising awareness, supporting and promoting the exchange of experiences and knowledge about this cause. It included exhibition stands with educational information on grooming and hygiene, as well as products and services available in the sector.

Mafalda Gonçalves, from the Pé Ante Pata association, highlighted the importance of the event: “We came to showcase our work, raise funds to pay for veterinary costs and raise awareness about animal welfare. Adoption of an animal shouldn’t be done on impulse, it’s a lifelong commitment.” Susana Silva, from the Animal Welfare and Health Inspection Unit of Oeiras City Hall, stressed the importance of the animal welfare municipal policy: “We brought a canine for adoption and we are publicising our projects, such as the Animal Friendly Space in Oeiras. We have several canines for adoption in CROAMO [Official Animal Collection Centre of Oeiras Municipality].”

Outside the campus, there was also a demonstration by the João Cardiga Equestrian Academy, where the Técnico students had the opportunity to pet and take photos with the “Brilhante” horse.

The programme also included talks on animal behaviour, with the participation of Paulo Fernandes, M80 radio presenter and author of the book and podcast ‘Walking on a Leash’, who explained the basic and technical principles of owning a dog and how to start training it. The speaker covered important topics, such as castration, sterilisation, and dog carriers.

A second session featured Cristina Fernandes who stressed “animal welfare is also human welfare” and Carlos Cordeiro, who sensitised the audience about properly training their pets.