A resident of Havana has accused her neighbor of killing her dog by hanging it from a tree, allegedly in retaliation for the dog entering his yard and killing some of his chickens. In a post on Facebook, Yisel RA shared heart-wrenching images of her pet and pointed fingers at her neighbor, identified as Guillermo, calling him "heartless."
"Today is a very sad day for me because my neighbor Guillermito, known by everyone in the neighborhood, did this to my dog just because it entered his yard and killed some of his chickens. Do you think what this murderer did is fair? Only a heartless person would do such a thing," Yisel expressed in her post.
The incident sparked outrage among Yisel's friends, acquaintances, and others, who condemned the act of animal cruelty and demanded that the responsible individual be reported to the authorities and face justice. Yet, in the comments, a woman attempted to justify the act by stating it wasn't the first time the dog had killed the neighbor's chickens.
Numerous people countered that no reason justifies the killing of an animal, suggesting the matter could have been resolved by compensating for the dead chickens. Yisel disclosed that the woman defending the act is the daughter of the man responsible for the dog's death, which explains her comment.
"No one knows how much I loved that dog and the sacrifices I made to raise it after it was left motherless," lamented Yisel.
In 2021, the Cuban government enacted Decree-Law No. 31 on Animal Welfare, yet its full implementation remains lacking. Animal rights activists sought amendments to the law, arguing that the penalties were insufficient for the ongoing cruelty cases across the country.
The National Center for Animal Health acknowledged a rise in animal abuse cases last September, as evidenced by the increasing number of social media reports of brutal and inhumane acts, some resulting in the animals' deaths.
Understanding Animal Cruelty Laws in Cuba
What prompted the neighbor to hang the dog?
The neighbor allegedly hanged the dog in retaliation because it entered his yard and killed some of his chickens.
How did Yisel RA react to the incident?
Yisel RA expressed her grief on Facebook, sharing photos of her deceased dog and calling out her neighbor for his actions.
Is there a law against animal cruelty in Cuba?
Yes, in 2021, Cuba enacted Decree-Law No. 31 on Animal Welfare. However, its enforcement has been inconsistent, and activists have criticized it for having insufficient penalties.