Man dismembers a cat on the streets of Santiago de Cuba.

Images of a man dismembering a cat on a street in the city of Santiago de Cuba have sparked outrage and alarm among many Cubans on social media, igniting the debate over animal abuse.

Several photographs of the event were published this Wednesday on Facebook by communicator Yosmany Mayeta, who commented: “The unfortunate photo that I had to censor was taken on Calle San Fermín between Habana and Trinidad, in the heart of Santiago de Cuba.”

The man, who appears to be over 60 years old and whose appearance and clothing suggest he is in a state of indigence, is seen sitting on the edge of the sidewalk, chopping up the animal with a knife or a similar object, and placing the pieces in a plastic bag.

The publication has triggered divided opinions. Dozens of comments disapproved of the action and violence in general against animals, and advocated for such acts to be penalized severely by the justice system.

Meanwhile, others argued that the man should not be judged, as the acute crisis in Cuba has led low-income people to seek ways to survive, even resorting to eating leftovers from the trash, due to the impossibility of affording food because of its high prices, both in state and private markets. There were those who claimed that the man suffers from some mental disorder.

However, many blame the government for the high rates of people in extreme poverty in the country, which have increased in recent years, especially among the most vulnerable sectors of society: the elderly, retirees, the sick, and children.

Likewise, some pointed out that the slaughter of livestock should also be classified as animal mistreatment, and they questioned those who do not consider it violence when it involves cattle, pigs, or birds for food.

However, beyond the controversy that this incident in Santiago de Cuba has sparked, citizens have expressed concern about the rise of animal violence in the country, and reports on social media have become very frequent.

Just a few days ago, a man stabbed and beat a stray dog in Havana, inflicting serious wounds, from which she managed to save herself thanks to the intervention of a neighbor and the assistance provided by animal protectors who learned about the case.

The story of Blanquita also came to light, a cat who was a victim of mistreatment, and she is alive thanks to the solidarity of several people. On May 16, some children threw the cat from a great height, causing her to suffer a fracture in her spine. Her owner rescued her, and since then she has been fighting to survive, despite facing serious health issues.

In August, animal protector Yenney Caballero reported a case of animal abuse in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, where horses used to pull carts are forced to remain in the sun, carrying heavy loads, while their owners rest in the shade.