Madeira is an island that gives us a lot. Beautiful landscapes, welcoming communities, an incredible climate and a lifestyle that attracts people from all over the world. But beyond the places we photograph, the hikes we enjoy and the cafés we visit, there is another side of the island that deserves just as much attention.

The animals that have been abandoned. The dogs waiting in shelters. The cats living on the streets. And the people who spend their days trying to make their lives a little better.

It's easy to overlook a problem when we don't see it every day. But for the associations and volunteers working behind the scenes, animal welfare isn't something they can simply walk away from at the end of the day.

There are animals that need feeding tomorrow, veterinary bills that need paying, shelters that need cleaning and more animals arriving when resources are already stretched.

And the question is: who looks after them when there aren't enough people, resources or donations?

A weekend at Pingo Doce, and a reminder of what community can do

On 3 and 4 October 2026, some of the Madeira Friends volunteers joined Ajuda a Alimentar Cães for a food and essential supplies collection at Pingo Doce Lido, in Funchal. Ajuda a Alimentar Cães is one of the local associations working to improve the lives of animals in need across Madeira. Providing food, supporting animal care and helping vulnerable animals requires ongoing commitment, organisation and resources. Food collections like this are an important way for the public to contribute directly to that work. Throughout the weekend, volunteers welcomed shoppers, explained the initiative and collected donations from locals and tourists.

For some of our volunteers, this was their first experience taking part in a collection like this. They came from different countries, backgrounds and walks of life, but they shared a willingness to give up a few hours of their weekend to help.

What stood out wasn't simply the number of donations. It was how willing people were to contribute.

Some stopped to ask what the association needed. Others returned with food and supplies. Shopping trolleys gradually filled up, thanks to individuals who decided to add something for the animals to their own shopping.

The experience, through our volunteers

We often talk about how rewarding volunteering can be, but it's better to hear it from the people who were there.

Magdalena Przybyszewska was surprised by just how much could be achieved in a short space of time. "I was happy to be a part of the pet food collection for Ajuda a Alimentar Caẽs at Pingo Doce in Funchal. In just over an hour, we managed to collect two full trolleys! So many locals and tourists were happy to help, donating food and other goods with a big smile and a real willingness to help. It was incredible to see how much can be achieved when people come together for a good cause. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated - we left with our hearts full." — Magdalena Przybyszewska

Benedikte Koldingsnes was particularly moved by the response from the local community.

"Volunteering with Madeira Friends and Ajuda a Alimentar Cães outside Pingo Doce was such an uplifting experience. Standing there and watching shopping cart after shopping cart fill up with donations—mostly from generous locals wanting to help animals in need across the island—was truly heartwarming. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to play a small part in it." — Benedikte Koldingsnes

For Alexandra Pittner, helping animals is also something personal.

"It was a pleasure for me to support the organisation which is caring for the animals here in Madeira. As I am also a catmom of a straycat from Cyprus I know how important this work is. People have been really generous and friendly. Thank you that I could be a part of this event." — Alexandra Pittner

These are three different experiences, but they share something important: people don't necessarily need previous volunteering experience, speak Portuguese or have lived in Madeira for years to make a contribution. Sometimes, they simply need to know where help is needed.

Beyond one food collection

As important as this weekend was, there is a much bigger picture.

Across Madeira, animal shelters, rescue organisations and independent caregivers work throughout the year to support abandoned, neglected and vulnerable animals. Organisations such as Ajuda a Alimentar Cães, Patinhas Felizes, Madeira Sanctuary, AMAIS, Vamos La Madeira, Madeira Street Dogs and other local initiatives all play a role in animal welfare, often with different needs and challenges.

Some need volunteers to walk dogs. Others need help cleaning, feeding animals, maintaining facilities, transporting supplies, collecting donations or supporting veterinary care.

And then there are the less visible tasks: organising rescues, responding to reports of injured animals, caring for animals recovering from illness, finding adopters and trying to secure enough resources to continue operating.

At SPAD, for example, more than 250 dogs depend on a relatively small number of staff and the additional support of volunteers. Walking a dog might sound like a simple task, but for an animal spending much of its time in a shelter, that walk offers exercise, stimulation, attention and a break from its usual surroundings.

Elsewhere, associations and independent rescuers face different difficulties, from finding suitable spaces to house animals to maintaining facilities and covering everyday expenses. And those needs don't disappear when a fundraising campaign ends, a volunteering event finishes or a social media post stops circulating. An animal still needs care the following morning.

The island we call home

One of the things we're particularly proud of at Madeira Friends is seeing locals and internationals working together to support the island. Madeira has welcomed people from many different countries. Some come for a few weeks, others stay for months, and many eventually make it their permanent home. We often talk about integration in terms of learning Portuguese, making friends, understanding local traditions or discovering the island. But perhaps integration should also mean understanding the challenges facing the place we live in and finding ways to contribute.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to meet local people, practise the language, learn about community organisations and experience a side of Madeira that isn't always visible to visitors.

And it's a two-way experience. Local organisations receive much needed support, while volunteers develop a better understanding of the island and the people who work to improve it.

Of course, animal welfare is not solely the responsibility of volunteers. It also requires responsible ownership, sterilisation, public awareness, adequate resources and cooperation between public authorities, veterinary professionals, associations and the wider community. Nor should associations be expected to carry an endless burden simply because they care enough to keep going.

But while longer-term solutions are needed, there are practical things individuals can do right now.

You don't have to rescue an animal to help one

Not everyone can adopt a dog or cat. Not everyone has the financial means to make regular donations. And not everyone has hours of free time. But helping doesn't have to mean making a major commitment. It could mean spending an afternoon walking dogs at a shelter, donating food or cleaning supplies, helping with transport, sharing a fundraising campaign, assisting with maintenance work or volunteering for a food collection.

For those with more time, many associations also benefit from regular volunteers. Even a few reliable hours each week can make planning and caring for animals easier. And if you aren't able to volunteer, becoming familiar with local associations, understanding their needs and sharing their work are also useful ways to support them. The important thing is to ask what help is actually needed rather than assuming.

What happens after we go home?

This weekend's collection was encouraging. We saw generous people, full shopping trolleys and volunteers leaving with a sense that their time had been well spent.

But perhaps the most important question comes afterwards.

What happens to the animals next week? Next month? Or when donations slow down?

The reality is that one successful weekend cannot meet every ongoing need, just as one volunteer cannot solve the challenges facing animal welfare across the island.

But consistent support, shared responsibility and better awareness can help these organisations continue their work.

At Madeira Friends, we want community involvement to mean more than attending events and meeting new people. We want to continue connecting those who are willing to help with the local organisations that need support.

If you have time to volunteer, would like to donate to an animal association or shelter, or simply want to understand where help is most needed, please get in touch with Madeira Friends. We can help connect you with local organisations and volunteering opportunities.

A sincere thank you to Ajuda a Alimentar Cães for their dedication, to everyone who contributed at Pingo Doce Lido, and to every volunteer who gave their time over the weekend.

And to the many other shelters, associations, rescuers and caregivers across Madeira: your work deserves recognition and ongoing support.

Madeira gives us so much to enjoy. We should also take an interest in the parts of the island that need our help. Because caring about a place should extend beyond enjoying its beauty. It should also include what we're willing to do to protect the lives within it.