According to the Order headed by Jorge Cid, there was a 22% increase in the number of abandoned animals in 2017, compared to the previous year, and this year, 14,000 animals have already been collected.

"The number of abandoned animals in Portugal continues to be very expressive, a reality that makes the Veterinary Order apprehensive about the capacity of the Official Collection Centres to receive and treat these animals," the veterinarians said in a statement released ahead of International Abandoned Animal Day, which is marked on Saturday.

Although several entities are working to respond to these numbers, the effort is still not enough, the Order said.

According to the vets, the problem will get even worse when the law prohibiting stray animals from being put down as a form of population control comes into force in about a month.

This year, and according to figures from the anti-rabies vaccination campaign provided by the Government Food and Veterinary Department, some 14,000 animals have already been collected at Official Collection Centres.

Cid said he considered this number is due, "to a great extent, to disinformation about the new law", that is leading, "to a precipitated abandonment of the animals."

The official also said that the Order had launched a veterinary voucher, "to help solve this problem and ensure compliance with the law with the necessary support from the veterinary medical profession."

The veterinary voucher will support municipalities in caring for abandoned animals without putting them down, as well as the collection centres and even needy families.

The Order provides a network for primary health care, including vaccines, deworming and sterilisation, which has already treated 2,000 animals at 201 centres in 12 municipalities.

"The positive manner in which the veterinary voucher is being received and implemented reveals an important awareness among decision-makers regarding this real problem that is at-risk animals in our country," said Cid.

In Portugal, more than half of households have at least one pet and measures have been created to promote the rights and well-being of both animals and owners.

In May of last year, animals gained a new legal status, which recognises them as living beings with sensitivity and autonomises in relation to people and things.