Welcome to vnonline.co.uk

vnonline.co.uk provides the veterinary nursing profession with the latest news and industry developments, as well as events, resources, learning materials and careers.

Our website is dedicated to veterinary nurses and we strive to provide a platform where you can voice and explore your interests.

Not a member yet? Sign up for free!

Register for free with vnonline.co.uk to gain unlimited access to news, resources, jobs and much more!



Click here to become a member







Log in to vnonline

Forgot your password?

Posted: 13th April 2018

Charity founder receives animal welfare award
Maria Pinto Teixeira (right) founded Animals de Rua in 2008, having started her career as a lawyer.

Maria Pinto Teixeira founded Animals de Rua in Portugal  

The founder of a Portuguese animal charity has received the iCatCare Welfare Award, which recognises 10 years of tireless work to improve the lives of cats and dogs in her home country.

Maria Pinto Teixeira accepted the award at CEVA’s Animal Welfare Awards in Birmingham on 4 April. iCatCare said her hands-on welfare work, training, sharing of knowledge and influence on legislation made her ‘the obvious choice’.

After beginning her career as a lawyer, Maria became concerned about the plight of unowned cat colonies in Portugal. She took it upon herself to seek out a humane solution to the problem, travelling to the UK and USA to learn how to carry out trap-neuter-return (TNR) work.

She left her legal practice in 2008 and founded Animals de Rua in 2008. While the charity initially carried out TNR work in her hometown of Oporto, it has since grown into one of the most recognised and respected animal welfare organisations in the country.

Animals de Rua works closely with local and central government to offer legal and scientific input on animal legislation.

Changes in the law influenced by the charity include the regulation of pet sales online and in shops, the rights of tenants with pets, the regulation of the ban on killing animals for population control and the establishment of TNR as a method of controlling feral cat colonies.

Image courtesy of iCatCare




Become a member
or log in to add this story to your CPD history