The II Feria Nacional de Adopciones ‘Pet Friendly’ is under way at Albacete’s IFAB, with 32 shelters from across Spain. The Diputación is presenting ‘Emperrados’ and its work to support adoption and prevent abandonment.
Dogs arriving at the provincial ‘Emperrados’ centre receive veterinary care and identification procedures from the outset, while staff work to find them adoptive homes. The service is one of the practical strands on show at the IFAB this weekend. Visitors can also speak with the centre’s representatives and learn about its work. The fair focuses on responsible adoption and preventing abandonment, while connecting prospective adopters with animal-protection organisations.
The II Feria Nacional de Adopciones ‘Pet Friendly’ is taking place at the Institución Ferial de Albacete (IFAB) on 24 and 25 October, with 32 protectoras from across Spain. Participating groups have travelled from provinces including Madrid, Valencia, Pontevedra, Granada, Alicante, Toledo and Murcia. Zooasis and 23Talent organised the event with the collaboration of the Diputación de Albacete and Ayuntamiento de Albacete. Provincial Environment deputy José Antonio Gómez visited the fair and toured its different spaces.
Gómez highlighted the need to prevent animal abandonment and make responsible adoption better known. He congratulated Juan Manuel Jimeno, the person behind Zooasis, and the organising team on the fair’s second edition, which has expanded its programme and drawn more participating organisations. He also thanked volunteers who give their time to protectoras and refuges. The first edition reportedly attracted more than 5,100 visitors, 65% of them from outside Albacete, and facilitated 110 adoptions. La Tribuna de Albacete also reported that it raised €15,000 and collected 12,000 kilograms of food.
The Diputación’s centre provides a service particularly to smaller municipalities, helping them meet their responsibilities for animal protection and welfare. Its network of contacts with protectoras in Spain and other European countries can widen the search for homes for dogs in its care. At the fair, visitors can learn about the centre and speak directly with organisations involved in adoption. The event also brings together shelters from several regions, raising their profile and introducing visitors to dogs seeking homes.
The event’s public-facing work sits alongside other debates about how residents receive support. RUSSPAIN’s housing coverage reported on unions’ calls for help for tenants after Congress rejected two housing decrees.
The fair is open until 23:00 on Saturday 24 October and from 11:00 to 21:00 on Sunday 25 October. Its programme includes canine unit demonstrations and workshops for children. Visitors can also see an adoption parade, enter contests or take part in a fundraising raffle for participating shelters. Adoption is not completed through an immediate handover at the exhibition: prospective adopters are assessed later by the related to the topic organisation.
A three-kilometre dog walk and run called I Marcha Canina ‘Corre con tu pana’ is scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 in the Imaginalia neighbourhood. Participants can take part with or without a dog. The proceeds will go to the participating organisations. Fair admission costs four euros for one day or six euros for both; march entrants can enter the fair free on Sunday. Local coverage reported around 5,000 visitors during Saturday morning, while organisers expected approximately 10,000 over the weekend.
