THEY DESERVE TO LIVE

 

Logo by: Jose ( Animal Protector)

This logo was inspired and made by one of our friends, the motive of inspiration towards this was how our friend sees the hard and dreadful struggles our animals go through day by day. We see every day how many people kill animals just for fun, for marketing reasons and it so sad. Because animals may not be able to talk to express there feeling but, they feel and suffer just as humans do. Thats why our friend Jose projected this logo wich speaks for all animals that go through  life trying to save themselves from the horrible and terrifying life treatning experience the go by each day, causde by the human race. Thats why we embrasse this logo with te text "They Deserve to Live".

Leatherback Turtle found dismembered

Another example of the cruelty done to animals. This article found yesterday in a local newspaper illustrates how abusive people are are to indefensive animals. The leatherback turtle is on the endangered species list and it was most likely killed when it came ashore to lay eggs.

Its head and frontal fins were cut off

 Whoever committed this crime will be facing the Federal Justice. I really hope that people are brave enough to call the authorities and lead them to the criminals that killed this beautiful and harmless animal.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/desmiembranymatantinglarenyabucoa-994676.html

Another Cruel Death



Dead Grevais' beaked whale

On May 4th, 2011 a dead Grevais beaked whale was found at the shores of Larga Beach in Maunabo, Puerto Rico.  This species of whale had never come to the beaches of the island. According to the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources , Daniel Galán Kercadó, the whale  was a juvenile female and showed signs of inadequate feeding. When a necropsy was practiced on the animal, biologists found ten pounds of plastic bags in her stomach which was the cause for the death of this magnificent creature.

People have to learn that by polluting the environment they are also being cruel to the living creatures with which we share this planet. This whale suffered a slow and painful death because of the irresponsible actions of leaving garbage on the beaches and not throwing away the trash in an appropriate container.

 http://www.elnuevodia.com/encuentranballenamuertaenplayademaunabo-958777.html
http://www.arkive.org/gervais-beaked-whale/mesoplodon-europaeus/

Making a Difference

                          These three girls are Andrea, Raysa and Linette. Three of our classmates.

    

       They saw a hurt puppy on the street and because they knew about our project, they went running to our  coach to see if the vet could save him.

     When they went to the vet, he took X-rays of him and found that his pelvis was broken and the vet said it couldn’t  be fixed.

                        So once again and sadly the puppy had to be euthanized.  The doctor said to the girls that what they were doing was good and that they should keep caring and encouraging others to do it. He also said that our program was making effect and that we were making a huge difference in people. 

                              

                        As you can see in the picture below this puppy was badly hurt and without a motive. Probably by some kid who hasn't been taught the respect for every living being. That's why I think that everything starts in the home. Parents, sisters, brothers and every family member, teach the kids that hurting anything from a leaf to a cat is something really bad. And if you don't break this chain you will be contributing to the violence that is killing our world day to day.

                           Our goal is to wake up people, and we are seeing the results. To see these girls responding to our work makes us realize that not everything is lost. And they are just  17 years old so our youth isn’t lost either. We have hope in people and hope in our youth. That’s why we’re here.

What can we do to solve this crisis?

We have seen enough evidence of how people are being abusive and irresponsible with animals. What can we do to end this huge world wide crisis that we sadly get to see every day? Well, we can start by:

1. Spay and Neuter Dogs (pets), Why? Because by not spaying or neutering your pet you put more animals in danger. Many people, don't want lots of dogs in their homes. So when their dogs reproduce they mainly give the puppies away or just abandon them. I've seen people who have done this! So therefore, let's not make this happen anymore. Take your pet to your nearest "Animal Hospital" and get them Spayed or Nuetered.

2. If you have horse, they are beautiful creatures that need special care, I was a horse owner and I knew how to take care of my horses. It's a shame to see horses roaming the streets and getting killed by cars, and also seeing these por animlas dying of hunger. If you have a horse or you are thinking of having one remember with great choices come great responsibilities. They are living creatures just like you and me. You have to feed them every day, give them a well protected home away from danger, medical attention and loving care.

3. Another thing you can do is create an organization in your town, where you and friends can fight for the rights of the animals. The government has laws and it is sad to say some of these laws are not being enforced and agencies stand by and  do nothing. We, the citizens, have the freedom of thought and speech. We should take action showing that even if the government doesn't care or do anything towards this situation we will because we speak for them!

4. Report animal abuse to your local police, City Hall, emergency management agency or animal rescue organization. It is a citizen's responsibility to report any crime that is taking place and animal abuse is a crime punishable by law.
In my town of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico you can report animal abuse by calling:
State Police- (787) 837-2020
City Hall - (787) 837- 2185
Emergency Management Office- (787) 837-2065
Visit http://fs19.formsite.com/mejd/form1/index.html and fill out a request for removal of stray dogs, cats or horses.

5. Adopt your pet. Visit any animal shelter and adopt a lovely pet. Shelters are overcrowded with adorable dogs, cats and horses that need a good and caring home.

6. Donate
You can donate money to shelters and animal rescue organizations. Most, if not all,  of them are non-profit and survive on the kindness of the people. If money is tight, you can donate your time and help as a volunteer. They are always in need of a helping hand.

We are here to protect and fight for the rights of those who do not speak (Abused Animals). And that is why we have the liberty and serenity of calling ourselves  "Animal Protectors".

What's wrong with this picture?

My name is José. Today while waiting to enter my music class, my project teacher excitedly told me what had just happened to her. She also had some pictures to support her story.
She stated that:


" This morning on my way to school a group of horses, standing by the road, caught my attention. As I passed I saw another horse about 50 ft. away tangled on a barbed wire fence. Although it was already

7:45 am, I decided to go back and try to free this poor horse. As I got closer I realized that I needed to call the Emergency Management Agency for help. It was then that an off duty police officer by the name of Sergeant Santiago stopped to help. He called the police station and reported the situation. The sergeant was unable to stay since he had his family in the car and was headed to San Juan. I thanked him and waited for help to arrive."

Sergeant Santiago calling the police station



" I was getting worried because the barbed wire was lacerating the horse and I did not know how long he had been there. While waiting I noticed a sign with a phone number of the owner of the property. I called and explained what had happened. About 5 minutes later a Mr Luis Santiago showed up with a rope and a pair of pliers. He calmly placed the rope around the horse's neck and then cut the barbed wire. After making sure the horse could walk alright, he turned it loose."

" I felt really good that the horse would now be alright. When the Emergency Management Team of 3 workers showed up, I was already helping Mr Luis Santiago mend the fence."

At the begining of this post I asked, what's wrong with this picture? The answer is that this happens too often in our community. Most of the stray horses we see roaming around have owners. Irresponsible kids that use these lovely creatures for their illegal activities and for them it's the only worth they see in having them around. They even tie them up by their tails!  That's wrong!

It's also wrong that the Animal Welfare and Protection Law # 154 was passed in 2008, a yet it is now that municipalities such as Juana Díaz are begining to comply with some of the law's demands, but are far from being ready to address or assist any animal in danger. That's wrong!!

There are many good and kind people and they would like to help just like Mr. Luis Santiago in this story. There are also too many that get some kind of rush doing harmfull things to other living creatures. Society has become insensitive to pain and lack empathy. We need to lead by example in order to expect others to do the right thing.  

Interview "The Importance of Sterilization"

This past week during a sad situation, we stumbled with a couple that have just gotten a dog a few weeks ago.

Interview at the vet's office

This couple is Edgardo Mercado and Santa Rodriguez got Booker their hound three weeks ago, because the women that had him could not stay with him where she lived. They decided to take him into their care. We met them in an Animal Hospital in Juana Diaz, PR, while overcoming an emergency with a kitten that was found hurt in the middle of the sidewalk.
They had taken Booker for a sterilization process because they wanted Booker to be a healthy stay at home dog, and  if he ever gets loose he doesn't impregnate any female dogs on the streets. Spaying and Neutering is one of the most important things an owner can do for his pet. Many people have pets and when they get tired of them they just leave them stranded on the streets and since they are not sterilized they impregnate other dogs and this is a really big problem because there starts the overpopulation of stray dogs and cats. This is a vicious cycle that day by day has an domino effect on all the shelters, animal rescues and amount of the abuse these animals are exposed to.  

This is what happens when people leave dogs on the streets abandoned with out sterilizing.

For more information you can visit:
http://www.essortment.com/spay-neuter-difference-22777.html
http://spaypuertorico.org/home.html

 

Tiger's Story

        As Nazhira walked to school, she saw this little kitten struggling in the street in front of our school. She approached it and noticed something was wrong with the way it was moving. She is an animal lover and knew we were working on animal cruelty. Not wanting to leave the kitten, she called our teacher and told her what she had found. Our teacher asked her to bring the kitten to her classroom and put it in a box.  We, Animal Protectors, were informed of the situation and went to check it out. The school bell rang and it was time to go to class.

        While we were in our first period our teacher called the only vet there is in our town of Juana Díaz and made an emergency appointment to bring the kitten to him and after talking to our other teachers we were granted permission to take the kitten, which we named Tiger, to the vet and off we went.

     When we got to the animal hospital it was full of caring owners waiting for their pets to be vaccinated, spayed and neutered or just to give them a check up. Our case was different, we were trying to save Tiger from injuries done to her by an insensible and heartless person.

     The veterinarian, Dr. Rivera, checked Tiger and it broke our hearts when he gave his prognosis. Tiger would die a slow and painful death if not euthanized.

Today we experienced first hand wanting to help an abused and mistreated kitten and feeling the pain of knowing it would die.



Love your pet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dypHa1OrQlI&feature=channel_video_title

This is a video of stray dogs in different places such as the public square and a public school. This becomes a health problem because these animals are sick and people are around them. In school the children sit on the floors of the hallways where these dogs have slept and even defecated. We have to wake up and realize what we are doing to these creatures and how it'll eventually affect us. If you're not going to be responsible for them when they grow up, don't get them when they are puppies because you are just contributing to the chain of abandoned and abused dogs.

Headlines on Animal Cruelty in Puerto Rico

"Police abuse against pitbull"

Agent shoots dog in the mouth twice. Bullets lodged in skull..

13 Marzo 2011

6:00 a.m.

 Denuncian abuso policíaco contra pitbull

Agente estatal introduce arma en la boca del animal y dispara dos veces



According to the news, agents were executing an arrest warrent. While they have their suspect in custody the pitbull named Ali approached the subject and it is when one of the officers put his revolver in the canine's mouth and shot twice. They thought it was dead but the owner, Eldra Santiago Hernández,  rushed Ali to the vet where she was told that the bullets were lodged in the dog's skull, his nose was severly damaged and that the operation Ali had to go through would be very expensive. The dog can be blinded and deaf if not operated soon.   

http://www.elnuevodia.com/denuncianabusopoliciacocontrapitbull-912944.html

"Desperatly Looking for Max"
Irregularities during the placement process in animal shelter in Ponce 27 Febrero 2011 6:00 a.m.
“Buscando desesperadamente a Max”
Denuncian irregularidades en proceso de ubicación del albergue de animales de Ponce




According to the news, Mrs. Diana Babin had to leave for an emergency trip but did not want to leave her dog Max alone. She decided to take him to a shelter were the manager of this facility asured her that Max was going to be put in a K-9 Police team. Do to some isues she came back to get her dog and found out that the shelter did not have him and the K-9 Police team did not accept him because of the dogs age, this has been a difficult moment for Diana because she has no idea were her son, companion and family member is.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/buscandodesesperadamenteamax-900956.html


Impostor Veterinarian almost kills two pitbulls

viernes, 25 de febrero de 2011 03:17 p.m.
Wilma Maldonado Arrigoitía / Primera Hora
Falso veterinario casi mata a dos perros Pitbull en Arecibo



A man, who had habilitated his residence as a veterinary office, almost killed two pitbulls when performing sugery cropping their ears. It happens to be that the man was not a vet, but a nurse and had been practicing surgeries for years. Fortunately, the dogs where taken to a real veterinarian doctor and will not die but as you can see in the picture above were mutilated by this impersonator. Pet owners also have a resonsibility to check for credentials to avoid these situations.

http://www.primerahora.com/falsoveterinariocasimataadosperrospitbullenarecibo-478276.html


"Dog thrown from a third floor by students"
19 Febrero 2011
6:00 a.m.
Tiran perro desde tercer piso

Estudiantes de una escuela en San Sebastían alegadamente lanzaron al can


Students from a school in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico allegedly tossed a stray dog from the third floor. It came to the attention when teachers started calling the animal shelter and reporting what they have seen. Although the teens deny throwing the dog, some saw them saying "it's flying" while it fell. The dog suffered a hip and front paw injury. The cost of the intervention was estimated in $1,500 which the first veterinarian called to asist refused to do at a much lesser price. Another vet was called and he accepted to help this innocent dog.

There are studies that suggest a direct correlation between animal abusers and later on becoming violent against people.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/tiranperrodesdetercerpiso-895257.html


Could face up to 15 years in prison for dragging a horse
Enfrentaría hasta 15 años de cárcel por arrastrar yegua
jueves, 16 de septiembre de 2010
Leysa Caro González / Primera Hora




Lisa Embree, Horse Rescue Program of Puerto Rico, has been in charge of the care of the mare called Milagros, and is satisfied with her recovery. ( Primera Hora / Archive / Olimpo Ramos)
On February 7 of 2010 when a seven month old mare refused to walk, the owner decided to tie it to his truck and drag the animal through the streets. Neighbors saw this atrocity taking place, alerted the police and the perpetrator was caught in the act.

The twenty three year old owner, Geogie Lopez Vigo, set a precedent by being the first case of animal cruelty in Puerto Rico to reach the courthouse and was judged by 12 jurors and found guilty.

Update:

In November of 2010, Georgie Lopez was sentenced to 12 years in prison for such act of animal abuse.

http://www.primerahora.com/enfrentariahasta15anosdecarcelporarrastraryegua-420552.html

http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Mayagez-court-sets-stiff-penalty-for-cruelty

Dead dog buried on sidewalk

In front of our school a car hit and killed a dog. The school director called Emergency Management, agency in charge of disposing of dead animals, and their remedy was to dump dirt right where the dead dog was.
According to the Law 154 of 2008, Animal Welfare and Protection, this agency should have a plan for proper disposal of dead animals and to pick stray dogs and cats to take to shelters. This is not happening!!

Unacceptable Behavior

This is really an outrage!! Thousands of people witnessed this act and the owl was so badly hurt it had to be put to sleep. That action is a direct reflection of how little regard many people have for other living creatures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrKmKSF3qLQ&feature=related

Public Announcement "Government"

A Public Announcement we speak of the lack of importance the government has towards the propper care of stray animals.

Roaming horses in public schools!!!

This video was taken at a school in Juana Diaz, PR. People don't take care of their animals and here we have proof these animals can suffer. People don't see it, but we do, and since they don't speak, we will! because "We are their Voices"!

Horses: Take care of Them

Malnourished horse- You can even see his ribs

            On February 27/2011, we, Animal Protectors went to a stable near our school in our town Juana Diaz. We interviewed some people and among them Mr. Rivera one of the caretakers and owner of the horses. It was very interesting to see the horses of movies and the real life ones. Like I say, that day we saw both sides of the story. We acquired some new knowledge that has helped us since that day. And now we can really compare and tell you about the differences about a healthy horse and one that is not.

Mr. Rivera's healthy horse

     

            Mr. Rivera is the owner of a horse that, as he told us, when it arrived it had signs that it had been abused, not treated as supposed and not even well nurtured. He told us that it took him a year for the horse to recover and be healthy as supposed to. He said that it's not easy because it takes a lot of time, money and care but if it's something you love, it doesn't matter any of that because you'll give it and more. He explained that a horse needs to be bathed once a week so that he doesn’t lose his hair. It also needs to be fed accordingly to its size. They need electrolytes, they have to be shod to protect their foot and also need to be walked, but what he said is that most of all they need, love lots of love. His horse is like another son for him he said, and we could obviously see by the way he talked and treated him. 

Unhealthy horse

          In the stable they had a horse that even though the owners went every day and fed him, it wasn't healthy. He was so skinny that you could see his ribs. Mr. Rivera told us that it probably was that he wasn't getting enough food, because obviously when it's a big horse or animal, it eats more. We also learned that you can know when a horse is dehydrated by looking at his neck. You pinch his neck and if it returns instantly he's good but if it takes seconds for the skin to return he's dehydrated, which he was. His conclusion was that for the horse to recover, it would take over 6 to 7 months and near $800.

  

          We asked him what he thought about the kids that have horses in their house or just on the streets. He said that it was really irresponsible because horses are not animals to be on the streets or on the houses. They need care, a measured diet, exercise, etc. He shared with us about an accident that he had not long ago, when he was at 5:00 a.m. driving to his house and hit a horse that was lose on the street. Mr. Rivera checked the horse and saw that he was fine, but his car was total loss.

         We just want to let you know that even though if you like an animal very much and get it as a pet, you have to know how to take care of it. Do some research, ask experts, take him to the vet. Don’t let it be like these horses. Don’t abandon it because it grew. If you make the compromise and love him when he’s little, do it when the animal grows up too. We’re the ones presenting to you the reality, now it’s up to you to defend and be the voice of your pets.