Ecobreves – CUBA: Protecting Pets from Natural Disasters

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HAVANA, Dec 1 2007 (IPS) - The Cuban Animal Protection Association and the governmental Cuban Society for Veterinary Medicine will work together to devise ways to protect household pets during natural disasters or war. The families evacuated because of hurricanes, intense rains or flood, the main causes of disasters in Cuba, “can take with them one pet, but many times they don't know how to, nor do they have adequate means to take care of them in the disaster shelters,” Nora García, president of the non-governmental Association, told Tierramérica.

The agreement, signed Nov. 24, “will create the conditions for providing broader protection to those small animals during such emergencies,” she added.

The Association promotes sterilization of domestic animals, especially cats and dogs, as “the only ethical method” to fight their overpopulation, and which also helps reduce risks in case of disaster.