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Amidst the tension in Santiago de Cuba due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Melissa, a group of animal advocates has made a solidarity appeal to protect the stray dogs and cats that are at risk from the impending weather phenomenon.
The organization SALBA – Santiagueros for Animal Welfare published an urgent call on Monday on Facebook, offering assistance of 3,000 Cuban pesos for each animal temporarily sheltered for three days—from Tuesday, October 28 to Thursday, October 30—with the aim of protecting homeless animals from the rains and winds that are already starting to be felt in the province.
Due to the extreme danger posed by Hurricane Melissa, and in order to protect the lives of homeless animals in Santiago de Cuba, SALBA is offering assistance of 3,000 CUP for each dog or cat sheltered for three days,” the statement notes, which was quickly shared by hundreds of users on social media.
The volunteers of the group invited the people of Santiago to temporarily take in an animal, whether one assigned by the organization or identified in their neighborhood, workplace, or community.
The announcement includes several contact numbers to coordinate the rescue and transportation of the animals to safe homes.
This initiative adds to other acts of solidarity from Cuban civil society that, in the face of the emergency, have chosen to organize themselves to protect the most vulnerable— in this case, stray animals— in a country where there are no state-run shelters or official evacuation protocols for pets.
The group concluded their message with an uplifting reminder: "Your help can save lives!".
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