The measure is part of the €14.5 million grant to promote animal welfare. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea told Lusa that, in the specific measure for families in need, €500,000 are allocated for veterinary services and the other half million will be used in pet food’s expenses.

These funds are allocated not only to the neediest families, but also to official collection centres or animal welfare associations, which are legally included.

"In the case of needy families, support is granted through municipalities, where the assessment of eligibility depends on the municipality's own social action services, which must have already established socioeconomic criteria," the ministry explains.

According to the ministry, this co-participation in the feeding of companion animals is similar to an "animal food bank," since "specific support will be provided to guarantee the feeding of companion animals belonging to economically vulnerable families."

"This support does not provide for the creation of a physical food bank, but rather the contribution of expenses related to animal feed," it clarifies.

Applications began on October 1st, and the support will cover expenses incurred between October 1st, 2024, and September 30th, 2025.

All veterinary services performed in legally licensed centres are eligible, as are all products intended for animal feed, whether physiological or treatment, solid or wet.

According to the Ministry, the maximum limit for financial support for food is R$5,000 per family for expenses incurred between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.

Financial support for veterinary services "will be subject to maximum limits per beneficiary, defined according to the municipality's resident population."

"The maximum co-participation limits increase progressively according to population size, ensuring that municipalities with larger populations can access support proportional to their needs," the Ministry stated.

In total, the measures planned to promote animal welfare include the government spending 14.5 million euros on construction, renovation, and modernization of infrastructure, as well as veterinary support for treatments, sterilizations, and identification of dogs and cats, in addition to support for animal welfare associations.