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The former Cuban spy René González sparked controversy on social media this Tuesday after posting a message questioning the public attention generated by the case of the abandoned dog during Hurricane Melissa's passage through the province of Granma.
In his comment on Facebook, González compared the outrage over the abandonment of the animal to CNN's coverage of the Iraq war, suggesting that while the country was being destroyed, the American media "showed up at the Baghdad zoo to report on the situation of the animals."
According to the former spy, the reaction in Cuba to the dog case reminds him of that media situation.
“Now it turns out that the First Secretary of Granma owes them an explanation for the decision of someone who did not choose to evacuate their dog,” she wrote, suggesting that concern for the animal diverts attention from human rescue operations.
"I love animals and oppose any form of abuse, but my experience has led me to distrust those who care more for embryos and animals than for people," the former agent added, apparently referring to the activists and citizens who reported the incident.
González's statements come days after images and reports went viral about a dog that was not rescued during Hurricane Melissa in the Cauto River area of Granma province.
The incident sparked a wave of outrage on social media, where hundreds of Cubans demanded accountability and called for explanations from local authorities.
In response, several official media outlets and figures from the regime attempted to discredit the criticisms, downplaying the situation and labeling it as media exaggeration.
It was in this context that González joined the debate, reinforcing the government's position and subtly accusing activists of distorting priorities in the midst of a national emergency.
The organization Bienestar Animal Cuba, in its Havana chapter (BAC-Habana) responded to their statements in a message published on Facebook, expressing regret that “figures with such reach prefer to distort a legitimate cause rather than acknowledge the importance of empathy.”
"Our cause does not seek prominence; it seeks coherence. It does not aim to compete with human suffering, but rather to remind us that compassion is not measured by species," the group stated, emphasizing that animal advocacy is also part of sensitivity and social responsibility.
BAC-Habana also reported that, from the government, there has been an attempt to politicize and ridicule public outrage, instead of assuming responsibility for the lack of protocols and sensitivity towards animals during disaster situations.
The case of the dog from Granma has reopened the debate about the absence of a real animal protection policy in Cuba and the lack of empathy from the authorities in response to incidents that deeply affect the public.
While the voices of the regime insist on diverting attention, activists remind us that "a society that ignores the suffering of the most defenseless —be they humans or animals— loses its humanity."
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