Animal rescue charity Cadela Carlota & Companhia has packed its October calendar with events around Lagos, in Portugal's western Algarve — and visitors to the area this autumn can easily get involved.
The centrepiece is The Art of Rescue, an exhibition of artwork connected to animals and rescue running from October 3 to 14 at the Júlio Dantas Secondary School in Lagos. It opens on October 3 at 6pm, with proceeds going towards the shelter's work. On October 4, the charity will also bring some of its dogs along, giving visitors a chance to meet them and hear about the animals waiting for homes — a nice option for anyone considering adopting while living in or moving to Portugal.
October 10 brings a second evening event: local author Carlos Filipe presents his new book, (Im)Perfect Friends, at 6pm. It's framed as both a book launch and another way to raise funds and awareness for animal rescue in the region.
Longtime supporters will also want to snap up the charity's 2027 calendar, launching this month. The calendars have become an annual tradition, featuring dogs and cats that have passed through the shelter — a small purchase that directly supports the animals' care.
Even before October proper, there are two supermarket collection days on September 26 and 27 in Lagos and nearby Odiáxere. These drives supply the shelter with food and basics, and donations go straight to the animals currently in residence. If you're shopping in the area that weekend, dropping a bag of pet food in the trolley is about as low-effort as charity gets.
The charity recommends following its social media for final dates, locations and any changes to the programme — and says simply sharing posts helps it reach potential adopters and donors.
Why should a travel site care? Because the western Algarve isn't just beaches and golf. Lagos in October still has warm weather, thinner crowds and a genuine local scene, and events like these give travellers and expats an easy way to connect with the community — whether that's popping into an art exhibition, buying a calendar as a souvenir with a story behind it, or, for longer-stay visitors, meeting dogs that need a home. Dog-lovers holidaying in the region might even find that a future trip involves an adoption paperwork detour.
