Cubans looking for a better future leave their animals behind

HAVANA (AP) – Balto, Pepa and Mami were among the lucky ones.

Abandoned by owners who had left Cuba – or who simply could no longer care for them – the dogs were rescued by animal rights activists on the island, who fed them, sterilized them and found them a new home.

Many others were not so lucky and wandered the streets.

While there are no official figures or estimates on the number of animals left behind by owners who leave the island, the number of abandoned cats and dogs has increased dramatically over the past two years as record numbers of Cubans migrate, animal activists say.

“We were getting a call from someone asking us to take care of their animals because they were suddenly migrating and they didn’t know what to do with them,” said Elizabeth Meade, founder of Adoptions for Love, an animal shelter in Havana.

Although the shelter found homes for about 300 rescued animals last year, many of them returned – or simply went missing – after their new owners also decided to migrate. “With these animals,” Meade said, “it’s not always a happy ending.”

Between October 2021 and September 2024, U.S. authorities reported more than 600,000 encounters with Cubans, a significant number for an island of about 10 million people. This is in addition to the thousands who choose to migrate to Spain or other Latin American countries.

For many Cubans, taking pets with them is not an option.

Transporting an animal from Havana to Miami through a specialized agency can cost up to $1,200 – including medical examinations and flights – and starting in September, pet owners must pay an additional $1,300 to comply with their legal quarantine obligation.

Daily life for those who remain in Cuba is not easy: the country’s gross domestic product fell by 2% in 2023, causing rampant inflation and food and fuel shortages.

Taking care of a pet on the island can be prohibitive for most Cubans. While the average monthly salary in the public sector – the largest employer – is around $21, a 20-kilogram bag of imported dog food can cost up to $70, and a visit to the vet costs the equivalent of $10.

The increase in the number of abandoned pets in Cuba is largely being countered by animal activism – a phenomenon that began to take shape in 2018, after the mass adoption of the Internet and social media helped coordinate efforts.

In 2021, animal rights activists scored a victory when the government passed the long-awaited Animal Welfare Act, which aims to prevent cruelty and raise awareness of the need to protect animals. The law also criminalizes animal cruelty, including dog fighting and the sacrifice of animals for religious purposes, but activists say this is not enough.

“Abandonment is the worst form of animal abuse,” said Leandro Valdés, a dog trainer and proud owner of Koffee, a rescued dog who went viral for riding around Havana on the back of Valdés’ motorcycle, wearing goggles and a seat belt.

“The increase in migration has resulted in more pets being abandoned,” Valdés says, noting a “loss of value” resulting from Cuba’s deepening economic crisis.