Animal rights activists rescue Dalmation dog in Sancti Spíritus: “Abandoned with cancer after being exploited to make money”

Animal protectors in the province of Sancti Spíritus rescued a Dalmatian dog on Monday that had been abandoned on the street and was suffering from a transmissible venereal tumor (TVT).

The ARCA Sancti Spíritus Foundation shared a video on Facebook of the rescue of the dog, who, due to the state of her breasts, apparently had been used repeatedly for breeding before being abandoned.

TVT is a contagious cancer in dogs that is transmitted through direct contact, primarily affecting the genitals, although it can also appear in other areas of the body, and in Cuba, it is a common reason for abandoning animals due to its difficult treatment.

In the comments, several people agreed that so-called purebred dogs are often indiscriminately used for breeding and the sale of their puppies. They also pointed out that when females become infected with this type of tumor, they are often abandoned.

"It is clearly noticeable the times she was used for childbirth, her breasts speak for themselves. Surely they got rid of her because of the TVT, after generating so much money, it was easier to dispose of her than to invest in her treatment," said a person named Nau Valentinok.

Likewise, Mary Isabel pointed out: “That’s why they want those of that race, to squeeze every last bit out of them and then this happens, when they can’t take it anymore, they abandon them to their fate instead of treating them and paying for their treatment, of course, since they are no longer useful for business, which is what interests them.”

Other protectors pointed out that the dog needs vitamins and vincristine sulfate, the latter being a medication that is usually used to treat TVT in female dogs.

Recently, an animal protection organization questioned the actions of Cuban institutions responsible for nature protection, expressing its outrage at the promotion of the sale of red squirrels in Havana.

In a Facebook post, Elizabeth Marela Cardoso Pérez harshly criticized sellers who, according to her, profit from the suffering of animals without any knowledge about their management and care.

In addition, amidst the economic crisis that Cuba is going through, the theft of pets has increased, which are then sold illegally, or in the worst case, serve as food.

Last July, a family that reported the theft of their two chihuahua puppies recovered them after someone, upon buying them, decided to return them to their owners.

"We found them," pointed out Mayrelis Garcés González in the Facebook group "SOS callejeros Cuba," while sharing images and videos showing the girl's joy at being reunited with her pets.