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Hundreds of tightly packed zinc-roofed shacks dot a hillside slum - one of thousands of ‘favelas’ that are home to millions of poor Brazilians across the country.
But this slum in the southern city of Caxias do Sul is a home for dogs, not humans. The unique animal shelter was set up by the NGO Sociedade Amiga dos Animais (Friend of Animals Society) in 1998 to try and cope with the hundreds of abandoned animals in the city.
But the numbers kept increasing and the dog town, located on a three-acre plot of land donated by the local authority, is now home to 1,600 dogs and 200 cats. Many of the animals that end up at the favela are found on the streets and some have been victims of abuse.
Locals have taken to calling it a ‘dog favela’ - meaning a dog slum.
Favelas, which are a common sight throughout Brazil's major cities, are home to millions of urban poor and rural migrants who leave the countryside seeking jobs. Many of the slums are plagued by violence linked to drug trafficking.
The dog favela is constantly overcrowded, as the number of animals arriving daily exceeds the number of those being adopted.
Stretched beyond its capacity, the NGO hopes to receive financial aid from the government to improve the favela’s tattered conditions and increase the number of animals it can care for.
Like in human shanty towns, the main challenge facing the dog favela is making ends meet. According to the NGO, the animals consume about 12 tons of food per month.
Via Daily Mail
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