Target: Yamila Peña Ojeda, Attorney General of Cuba
Goal: Apply the full weight of Decree-Law 31—including prison, heavy fines, and a lifetime animal-ownership ban—against the individual who allegedly butchered a stolen horse and slept on its body.
A recent report from Cuban animal-welfare advocates describes a scene of shocking savagery. As reported, a man intoxicated with alcohol purportedly stole a neighbor’s horse, dragged the animal to his mother’s yard, and proceeded to slaughter the defenseless creature. Eyewitnesses claim that, once the killing was finished, the perpetrator passed out atop the horse’s lifeless body.
Local coalition Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC) reportedly compiled photos, testimony, and other evidence that prompted police to arrest the suspect and file criminal charges. The incident has sparked outrage throughout the community, with many demanding that Cuba’s Animal Welfare Decree-Law 31 be enforced to its fullest extent. Under this law, intentional cruelty toward animals can result in significant fines and prison time.
Swift and decisive prosecution is essential. Anything less than the maximum legal sanction would diminish the deterrent power of Decree-Law 31 and signal that horrific cruelty can escape real consequences. Imposing strict penalties—and permanently barring the offender from animal ownership—will protect other animals and affirm Cuba’s commitment to compassion and justice.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney General Peña Ojeda,
Animal-welfare group BAC has reportedly provided your office with a dossier detailing a gruesome crime in Holguín Province: an intoxicated individual allegedly stole a horse, slaughtered the animal, and then fell asleep on the body. Photos and witness statements apparently confirm both the theft and the brutal killing.
This conduct, if verified, represents an extreme violation of Decree-Law 31. The horse endured unimaginable terror and pain, and the broader community has been traumatized by the cruelty of the act. Failure to impose meaningful punishment could embolden future abusers and erode public faith in Cuba’s animal-protection statutes.
We respectfully urge you to prosecute this case to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please seek the maximum term of incarceration, impose substantial fines, and issue a lifetime prohibition on keeping or working with animals. A strong legal response will demonstrate that deliberate cruelty has no place in Cuban society and will help safeguard countless animals from similar abuse.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Katrina Swinnley
