A new episode of extreme animal cruelty has sparked outrage on social media and has once again brought to the forefront the ineffectiveness and leniency of the Animal Welfare Decree-Law in Cuba.
On this occasion, a man in Mayabeque brutally struck a female dog with a shovel and then threw her from a second floor, resulting in her death; however, the punishment imposed was a mere administrative fine of 3,000 Cuban pesos.
The incident was reported on Facebook by activist Yenney Caballero, who recorded and livestreamed the moment when she, along with other activists, confronted the aggressor, who acknowledged on camera having killed the animal.
"Yes, I killed her," admitted the man, as the activist demanded explanations and presented his face to the community.
The recording showcases Caballero's outrage and that of those present as he reports that the man "hit the dog with a stick" and then "threw her down from here," indicating the second floor of the building.
Neighbors who witnessed the event confirmed the mistreatment; however, as the complainant regretted, no one intervened to stop the violent act.
"The guy tells us to our faces that he killed her just because he wanted to," Caballero is heard shouting.
"That's enough already. How much longer do we have to keep seeing this? This is not a neglect issue: this is murder," he added, calling for changes to the Animal Welfare Decree to impose truly deterrent sanctions.
The activist publicly proposed fines of 20,000 or 30,000 pesos for those who commit such acts, stating that "a fine of 3,000 pesos does absolutely nothing to resolve the issue."
Additionally, she questioned the passivity of the State in response to a situation that has become commonplace for animal protectors and rescuers in Cuba.
"We have houses filled with injured, run-over, and mistreated animals. Meanwhile, killers like this continue to mock us to our faces," Caballero denounced.
"The pain we feel is beyond description. We fight to save lives every day, while the State allows these murderers to go unpunished with a ridiculous fine. Where is the justice?" Caballero asked at the end of her broadcast, visibly affected.
The activist Enma Silvente, from the Facebook group XL_Colonias, publicly identified the aggressor as Leonardo Campos Valdés, and confirmed that he was confronted on the scene by several animal rights activists. “He was confronted and judged by several companions who showed up there. He never showed any remorse,” she reported.
Silvente also confirmed that it was the specialist Evelyn, from Animal Health, who imposed the fine of 3,000 Cuban pesos, a sanction he described as a mockery. “Is a dog’s life worth 3,000 pesos? No, absolutely not,” he wrote in his post.
"We will show up wherever someone who massacres animals resides; we will be there as long as the punishment is a mockery of a fine," he warned, demanding what is already a national outcry among activists: a real animal protection law and the immediate modification of the fines that currently allow for impunity in cases of mistreatment.
The case, far from being an isolated incident, adds to a long list of complaints that highlight the lack of real protection for animals in Cuba, despite the existence of regulations that are not enforced with the severity demanded by the seriousness of these crimes.
The animal rights community has been demanding the amendment of Decree-Law 31/2021 for years, which was approved following protests and sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Agriculture. However, to this day, it has proven to be a weak instrument, lacking real mechanisms to effectively punish mistreatment.
This case has reignited the alarms among activists, rescuers, and caring citizens who, in the absence of institutional responses, continue to do the work that the State refuses or is unable to take on.
In another recent episode, a suspected animal abuser in Cienfuegos was released following a state intervention that sparked even more outrage among animal rights advocates.
The case of a neighbor from Holguín who killed a cat and only received a fine of 1,500 pesos also received widespread criticism, as this punishment is seen as merely symbolic in light of the cruelty committed.
And recently, an animal rights organization reported another brutal act of abuse, highlighting the ongoing occurrence of these incidents without real consequences for the perpetrators of cruelty.
Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Abuse in Cuba
What punishment was imposed on the person who attacked the dog in Mayabeque?
The attacker received an administrative fine of 3,000 Cuban pesos for brutally beating a dog with a shovel and throwing her from a second floor, resulting in her death. The community and activists have expressed their outrage at the leniency of the punishment.
What do activists think about the Animal Welfare Decree-Law in Cuba?
Activists believe that the Animal Welfare Decree-Law is ineffective and lacks adequate penalties to deter animal abuse. They demand modifications to the regulations to include harsher penalties, as the current ones do not effectively protect animals.
Is animal abuse common in Cuba?
Animal abuse in Cuba is a frequent problem and has been documented on numerous occasions, with activists denouncing the lack of effective action from the authorities. Cases of cruelty, such as the one in Mayabeque, are common and reflect the urgent need for legal reforms.
What actions are activists taking to improve the situation of animal welfare in Cuba?
Activists are using social media to bring attention to cases of mistreatment, demanding reforms in current legislation and harsher penalties. They have publicly proposed higher fines and stricter sentences for those who commit acts of animal cruelty.
Filed under: