The association Au Coeur des M.A.E rescues stray or abandoned animals in the PACA region and on the island of Rรฉunion. They are entrusted to foster families until they are adopted.
France is the “first country in Europe” in terms of abandonment. The associations that help animals are therefore overwhelmed, and always need volunteers and donations. “The sale of animals is illegal for individuals.” Animals can only be given away.
Origin of the association
Carine, the president, wanted “adoptions that reflect her image”. So she decided to create her own association in 2019, with no accountability. She wanted to be able to do things the way she wanted. “I think we need more associations, we are not enough. We have to refuse to take in animals.” The team consists of a treasurer, a secretary, and four volunteers.
Dogs and cats available for adoption
Au Coeur des M.A.E shares advertisements for dogs and cats available for adoption on its Facebook page and specialized groups, the Seconde Chance website, Le Fonds Saint Bernard, and Pet Adoption. Currently, about ten are available for adoption.
Feel free to take a look, you may fall in love with a dog or cat in need of a family. However, be aware that an adoption is not to be taken lightly. An animal is not a plush toy. It requires costly care, walks, lots of attention, and love. Far too many animals are abandoned when families don’t take it seriously.
Maรฏdo and Pacha are each looking for a caring family in the region. “They have a painful past, need patience, and also have a lot of love to give.”
Fortunately, fewer and fewer people are turning to pet stores. These will soon close. They do business with pets in shop windows, which have questionable origins. Carine has noticed an increase in public awareness.
Foster families
If you wish to become a foster family, to help animals awaiting adoption, simply send an email to the association at: acdmae@gmail.com. You can also write to them on Facebook.
“A foster family has no fees. They must take care of the animal and take it to the vet, like a family member. The association covers all costs.” However, there are still not enough. Au Coeur des M.A.E is continuously searching for more. Some animals sometimes must be placed in kennels.
Other actions
To supply foster families, the association organizes food collections. It also sometimes feeds dogs of homeless people, people in need, and helps shelters. Unfortunately, donations are not enough. Au Coeur des M.A.E therefore needs to purchase food.
They also organize sterilization and awareness campaigns. “We advocate for sterilization to prevent all sorts of proliferation, given the amount of suffering on this Earth.”
Current difficulties
The current period is very complicated for all associations. “Our association takes in very few babies, mostly adults, sometimes difficult, disabled, damaged, with a heavy past and complicated history. Naturally, these adoptions are more complicated than if we took in puppies or kittens. We have been looking for solutions for some of them for months.”
Au Coeur des M.A.E is urgently looking for a volunteer community manager to manage the Facebook page. Communication is essential to make the association known and give more chances to animals in need. The president would very much like to have a website, but she doesn’t have the time to deal with it.
Disputes among associations
Au Coeur des M.A.E is supportive and shares other announcements from shelters and associations that need help to save an animal. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Some associations appropriate foster families to keep them in hand, to the detriment of animals that might need them urgently. Contrary to what one might believe, there is competition between associations. Animals are not always their priority. “It’s a cruel and unhealthy environment.”
The island of Rรฉunion
Carine has been trained to rescue stray animals on the island of Rรฉunion, which number over 70,000 for approximately 800,000 residents. She explains the catastrophic situation on the island regarding animal welfare. “Many abuse and neglect animals. The four pounds are always full. Every week, hundreds of dogs and cats are euthanized. Au Coeur des M.A.E therefore tries to get them out of there and find solutions. There are not enough associations, shelters, and foster families.”
