How do I contact the shelter about Afonso?

Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Bianca APS handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Afonso on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.

Can I adopt Afonso if I live in another country?

Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Bianca APS will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.

Is Afonso already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?

Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.

What happens if Afonso isn't the right fit?

Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Bianca APS early rather than rehoming privately; they know Afonso and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.

Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?

TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (PT). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.

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Available

Afonso

Male · 4 years

Characteristics: Vaccinated, dewormed, and neutered. Personality: The Afonso is a special dog. He is friendly and likes all other dogs. He doesn't like people touching him and growls, but he is not as reactive as he was when he first arrived. This is a result of a life on a chain and severe mistreatment... he really suffered a lot. When he arrived, he was severely underweight, with all his bones sticking out through his skin (photos below). He had a hip fracture for which surgery was out of the question! He is a little dog who endured a lot of pain and mistreatment, so he doesn't trust people, but he is learning. He has regained weight and is now at an ideal weight. He deserves a home to know that there is comfort and love in this life and that not all humans are bad. The story of the Afonso is another of an animal on a chain, emaciated, starved, sick, with a mark of old trauma, suspicious of humans… Did he escape or was he let go? The chain was very heavy! So was his previous life. Afonso, if you could speak, what would you tell us? Some of you might not be able to hear… The Afonso arriving at Bianca's shelter. The Afonso is afraid of people and other dogs. When we touch him, he reacts, as seen in the video, but he does not bite. This unfortunate dog was severely mistreated… We can say with certainty that the Afonso lived his entire life in constant physical and psychological suffering. When we found the Afonso:

PT·Show original

Características: Vacinado, desparasitado e castrado. Personalidade: O Afonso é um cão especial. Ele é simpático e gosta de todos os cães. Não gosta que as pessoas mexam nele, e rosna. Mas já não está tão reactivo como estava quando chegou. Isso é resultado de uma vida à corrente e maus tratos graves…. sofreu mesmo muito. Quando ele chegou estava super magro, com todos os ossos a espetar a sua pele (fotos em baixo). Tinha uma fratura na bacia cuja cirurgia está fora de questão! É um cãozinho que passou muita dor e maus tratos por isso não confia nas pessoas, mas está a aprender. Já recuperou peso, estando agora no peso ideal. Ele merece uma casinha para saber que existe conforto e amor nesta vida e que nem todos os humanos são maus. Também disponível para apadrinhamento ! A história do Afonso é mais uma de um animal acorrentado, em magreza total, esfomeado, doente, com marca de trauma antigo, desconfiado de humanos… Soltou-se ou soltaram-no??? A corrente era bem pesada! Assim como foi a sua vida anterior. Afonso, se falasses o que nos dirias? Alguns de vós não conseguiriam ouvir… Afonso chegando ao abrigo da Bianca O Afonso tem medo de pessoas e de outros cães. Quando o tocamos ele reage, como se vê no vídeo, mas não morde. Este infeliz foi muito mal tratado… Podemos dizer, com toda a certeza, que o Afonso viveu toda a sua vida em constante sofrimento físico e psíquico. O Afonso quando o encontrámos:

Size

Medium

Age

4 years

Location

🇵🇹Portugal

Shelter

Bianca APS

Living with Afonso

✓Vaccinated
✓Neutered
✕Good with dogs
✕Has special needs

Cared for by Bianca APS · Portugal

More dogs in Portugal →

Listed 6 months ago

Bringing Afonso home

What you'll need for Afonso in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

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About Afonso

What life with Afonso looks like

Afonso is a medium-sized adult dog waiting at Bianca APS in Portugal.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

Note from the shelter: Has an old pelvic fracture that cannot be surgically repaired. Severe trauma history requiring patient rehabilitation.

🇵🇹Adopting from Portugal

Portuguese rescues coordinate extensively with European rescue networks for cross-border placements, especially for galgos and podencos. Sterilization, vaccinations, and microchip ID are standard. Adoption fees typically cover the full vet workup.

Portugal, Portugal — browse more dogs in Portugal.

Frequently asked

Adopting Afonso, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Afonso?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Bianca APS handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Afonso on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Afonso if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Bianca APS will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Afonso already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?: Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Afonso isn't the right fit?: Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Bianca APS early rather than rehoming privately; they know Afonso and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?: TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (PT). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.