Solutions Come in Many Forms

Recently, a report in the New York Times took up the issue of cruelty to animals in Puerto Rico.  The article describes a particularly gruesome extermination of pet dogs and cats, and a larger problem of animal abuse and neglect on the island.  Many animal rights advocates in Puerto Rico believe the issue has gained attention and some initiatives from the government only because of a threatened tourism boycott. 

The issue is not new in Puerto Rico.  A similar piece was written in the same paper ten years ago, and the problem remains largely unchanged.  Lamentably, the problem of animal abuse is not particular to Puerto Rico.  But cultural differences may lead to perceptions of neglect and abuse based on different cultural norms.  For many anglos (and also many Latinos), bullfighting is a cruel and backward spectacle, far from being a sport.  Can we be objective about this, if our parents and grandparents grew up singing songs about heroic toreros (bullfighters)?  Where would we be without the “¡olés!” of the bullring, still popular in Colombia, Mexico and Spain?  

In other parts of Latin America, cockfighting is still a major pastime.  Many New Yorkers were appalled that a star baseball pitcher here would indulge in such barbarity in his home country.  It is said that in the Dominican Republic, where the poverty rate is reported to be about 40%, there are over 1,500 galleras (cockfighting rings), completely legal and under state jurisdiction.  This is not just an overseas issue; major cockfighting rings have been found in Miami, Orlando, New York, and Texas.  In fact, it is legal in many Southwestern states, and of course, its supporters are not only Latinos.

Aside from having to change some concepts of what is sport, the larger issues of animal abuse may require engagement with other cultural elements.  Perhaps we can't change the world overnight, even if we had all the answers, but we can certainly start right in our own homes.

Domestic animal abuse is very much centered on overpopulation.  Everyone loves puppies, but many puppies come to the world in miserable conditions, and die of abuse and neglect, after having been sold in an unscrupulous marketplace.

Why the overpopulation?  Many dog owners refuse to spay and neuter their pets.  An informal survey of  acquaintances reveals traces of machismo, or maybe anthropomorphism, in comments such as "How could you do that to a dog?" regarding neutering, and "Oh, maybe we'll do it after she's had puppies, so she could see what it's like," regarding spaying. 

Everyone agrees puppies are adorable, and maybe a well-intentioned breeder can find homes for the first four, six, or more, puppies of that first litter, but will they all be loved and kept, and will they, in turn, be bred, compounding the abandonment problem? And will there be a second litter?  In New York City alone, over 50,000 unwanted animals are put to death every single year in order to manage the shelter population, not including road kills and deaths by disease and starvation.  Clearly, every breeding counts.  It's a similar scenario regarding unwanted domestic cats.

What to do, in our little corner of el mundo?  Spay and neuter our pets, and encourage friends and family to do so.  Learn about the pet you are considering, before you make the commitment to getting one.  Understand that you are taking responsibility for a living thing, not a toy.  There's daily care, grooming, vet bills and food costs; you can't just leave it on a shelf when you are busy.  Don’t patronize puppy mills; much has been said by Oprah Winfrey and others about where those adorable puppies at the mall come from.  Don't be part of the abuse.  If you are sure you want a pet, adopt from your local shelter, and consider an adult, which will be easier to care for than a puppy.  If you must have a purebred pet, contact the breed rescues.  By now, most breeds have national chains of rescues, to help match people with the pet they want.

Whether or not you have or want a pet, you can still be part of the solution.  We can all combat desensitization when and where we see it -- it is just not okay to tolerate animal cruelty and neglect.  We can report abuse, and insist on enforcement of existing regulations.  We can support local shelters and private rescues; even five dollars can buy flea treatment for a good number of strays.

And if we do have pets, we can love them, and play with them, care for them, and enjoy their company.  ¡Buen Juancho!  ¡Buena Panchita!

Sources:
“Scrutiny for Puerto Rico Over Animal Treatment,” March 9, 2008; and “Puerto Rico Tackles Issue Of Stray Dogs' Suffering,” January 6, 1998; New York Times
“Pedro Martinez Caught At Cockfight,” February 7, 2008, New York Post

For more information about how to help, contact your local shelter, or www.humanesociety.org
To adopt a local pet, purebred or mixed, check the profiles on www.petfinder.com