Paka Dora Association
About Us
PDA (Paka Dora Association) is an Algarve-based animal charity founded by Gabi Shepherd and her partner, Alastair Huddart. The charity’s name was inspired by their beloved furry friends: Dora, their first adopted Portuguese ex-street cat, and Paka, their adopted rescue cat who came with them when they moved from the UK.
Our story
How our local cat colony found us
Established September 2023
After arriving in southern Portugal to start a new life, Gabi and Alastair settled in a sleepy village near Benafim, Loulé. Welcomed by warm-hearted locals and the Algarve sunshine, they soon felt at home. However, they were struck by the sheer number of cats and dogs living on the streets.
Some had been born there, others had been abandoned, while many were simply strays who had never found their way home. As the local street cats began to seek them out, their gentle meows quickly captured Gabi and Alastair’s hearts.
It wasn’t long before they realised they needed to take responsibility for the growing colony of street cats in their village. They were fortunate to find that the local community also opened its hearts to both the cats and their efforts to help them.
In September 2023, PDA was officially established as a cat charity, with the aim of feeding and caring for the village cat colony, supporting other street cat colonies through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and helping individuals who care for street cats in their communities.
Paka & Dora
PDA is named after Gabi and Alastair’s beloved furry friends: Dora, their first adopted Portuguese ex-street cat, and Paka, their adopted rescue cat, who came with them when they moved from the UK. Both have sadly since passed away, but their names live on in every cat PDA helps.
Our impact
Our success so far
To date we have sterilised 532 cats and 16 dogs, as well as helping many more with varying veterinary issues. We currently have 12 colonies with volunteer caretakers.
532
cats sterilised
16
dogs sterilised
12
colonies with volunteer caretakers
Our approach
How we work
We don't remove cats from the streets. Instead we make each colony safe and stable.
The cats are trapped humanely, taken for sterilisation and treatment, then returned to the place they know. After that the work continues, feeding, watching for illness, and helping new cats as they appear. It is slow, unglamorous and it works.
Get in touch
Any questions? Just ask.
Whether it's about volunteering, donating, a cat that needs help in your community or information on the charity itself, send us a message and we'll come back to you as soon as possible.
Or email us at generalpda@gmail.com