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The organization Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC-Habana) shared images on its social media of the “little dog from Cauto” that may suggest it is alive.
The images were originally shared by "a profile identified as Yenier, linked to official media in Bayamo," who claimed that "the puppy 'is alive' and 'with its owner,' without providing a location, date, or any other verifiable evidence," explained BAC in a Facebook post.
However, the independent animal rights organization believes, after analyzing the images, that it is highly likely to be the same animal.
"The dog seems somewhat thinner, with duller fur and a visible air of neglect, which could be due to the time that has passed or a different environment," the post reads.
According to BAC, "despite the evident similarity, it has not been confirmed who the person in the images is, nor if they are indeed the dog's owner. There is also no clear information about where the photos were taken or the current condition of the animal.”
“Our position remains the same: transparency, rigor, and responsibility. We neither confirm nor deny anything definitively as long as there is no verifiable evidence,” they added, while requesting the assistance of anyone with verified information on the case.
This week, BAC was the target of a media attack by the official program Con Filo, broadcasted by Televisión Cubana, following their claims regarding the case of the abandoned dog during the evacuations in Granma province.
“Last night, the program Con Filo, hosted by Gabriela, devoted an entire segment to publicly attacking us,” the group posted on Facebook. “In a manipulative tone, we were presented to the entire country insinuating that we are part of the counter-revolution and that our actions respond to interests unrelated to animal protection.”
The group, which has led the national campaign for the rescue of the so-called Cauto or Bayamo puppy, reiterated that their demands seek transparency rather than propaganda. "We emphasize that until the animal is shown, alive and in safe conditions, our doubts and demands remain. We are not asking for propaganda; we are asking for the truth."
The case of the "puppy from Bayamo"
The case has its origin in a publication by the state media CMKX Radio Bayamo, which broadcast images of the dog left behind during the evacuations for Hurricane Melissa. The text, titled The Pain of Departure, sparked a wave of outrage on social media due to its poetic tone, which many considered a romanticization of animal abandonment.
Amidst that controversy, BAC-Habana issued a national call to demand proof of life for the animal and offered to cover all expenses for its rescue, veterinary care, and transportation. “This is not just another post. It is the cry of a little dog that was left alone, looking up at the sky where its friend went,” the organization wrote on its profile. The campaign, which asked users to fill social media with images of the dog, became a symbol of civic empathy during the evacuations in Granma.
The case sparked a wide national debate. The activist Manuel Viera questioned on Facebook the priorities of Cuban society, contrasting the outrage over the dog with the silence regarding political prisoners. His post divided opinions and was responded to by BAC-Habana, which urged him not to divide the movement and to maintain respect. The exchange reignited the debate on empathy and rights on the island, generating heated discussions online.
Soon after, the former spy René González criticized the displays of empathy towards the dog and compared the social reaction to the media coverage of the Iraq war. His comments coincided with an official media offensive that aimed to downplay public outrage. BAC-Habana responded that “we regret that figures with such influence prefer to distort a legitimate cause rather than recognize the importance of empathy” and emphasized that “our cause does not seek attention, it seeks coherence. It does not aim to compete with human suffering, but to remind that compassion is not measured by species,” as explained by the organization following the former spy's statements.
The animal rights organization, for its part, insisted that the case is not about politics, but rather about sensitivity and social responsibility. “These attacks only strengthen our conviction that empathy should not be criminalized,” concluded BAC-Habana.
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