The initiative, aimed at individuals aged 60 or over, residing in the municipality and registered in the 'Programa Idade D’Ouro' (Golden Age Program), maintains its innovative approach, combining active aging, social inclusion, and animal welfare. The project seeks to combat social isolation, encourage more active routines, and strengthen emotional bonds and community participation.
GondoPET operates in two main areas: responsible adoption of companion animals from the CROAG – Official Animal Collection Center of Gondomar, a free process that includes vaccinated, dewormed, identified, and sterilized animals, along with dog socialization classes; and volunteering in animal protection, in collaboration with partner entities VivAnimal and Associação Animais da Quinta.
The new edition already has 20 registered participants and will run until March of next year, combining theoretical and practical sessions focused on animal protection, social participation, and the benefits of human-animal interaction. The program includes individualized assessments to define adoption or volunteering paths, followed by specific training and personalized support.
This year is marked by national recognition for GondoPET, which won the Grand Prize of the 7th edition of the Autarquia do Ano Award – Grupo Mosqueteiros, a gold award at the 2026 Municipal Excellence Awards, and was instrumental in Gondomar Municipality receiving the 2026 Medal of Social Merit.
Applications for the new edition of GondoPET remain open and can be submitted in person at the Balcão Único de Atendimento Municipal (Municipal Single Service Desk) or through the Gondomar Municipality's online services, with an application form available on the website.
