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The outrage over the case of the abandoned dog during the evacuations in Bayamo, in the province of Granma, has sparked a debate that goes beyond animal rights.
While the organization Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC-Habana) mobilizes the entire country to demand proof of life for the animal, activist Manuel Viera stirred controversy by questioning the moral priorities of Cubans and the silence regarding political repression.
Viera published a message that sparked divided opinions. She expressed her admiration for the work of animal rights activists but criticized the country for reacting with such passion over the dog in Bayamo while remaining indifferent to political prisoners and the repression under the Cuban regime.
"I don't understand why the more than a thousand two-legged puppies sleeping between bars aren't going viral," wrote Viera, referring to the imprisoned opponents.
In a second post, he acknowledged that animal rights activists come together and act without fear, while those defending human rights in Cuba "struggle to do so with the same strength."
His reflection provoked an angry response from BAC-Habana, which urged him not to divide the movement: “Manuel, enough already. The focus of our attention is not on you. Respect.”
Despite the criticism, : “We should not dehumanize ourselves or place animals above humans in order to love and protect them.”
The debate remains open. BAC-Habana continues its search for the dog from Bayamo. In the meantime, in Cuba, the discussion about empathy, fear, and the value of life reveals the deepest cracks in a society marked by censorship and hopelessness.
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