When disasters strike, people are not the only victims: disasters affect animals as well. In the midst of chaos, pets can be separated from their families, left behind, lost and forgotten. But it is not just companion animals that need to be rescued. Wild and farm animals are also hit by natural calamities and require medical care and help until they can be released and returned to their natural habitat.

To be prepared, OIPA Chile and SEARCH have organized a course aimed at training volunteers in animal rescue operations in the wake of a natural disaster.

At the end of the course all the participants will be ready to carry out relief work and provide rescue assistance to pets, domestic and wild animals in areas that are impacted by natural disasters.

OIPA Chile will soon have a disaster relief team ready and running to assist animals of all species in natural disaster situations. Here are some photos of emergency rescues carried out by SEARCH and Samuel Molina, OIPA Chile representative and lecturer of the course, who has nearly 30 years of experience in catching and handling wild and stray animals.

The course will cover the topics of main natural disaster threats in Chile, the risks of dealing with animals in danger, animal rescue techniques, rescue protocols, definition of roles during interventions.

Follow OIPA Chile on Facebook to know more about their activities.

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According to the legislative proposal, ‘feral dogs’ are those dogs that have lost their status of ‘pet’ or ‘domestic animal’ and organize themselves into packs, breed and attack other animals. In other terms, they have acquired the characteristics of wild animals that do not depend on humans. The bill states that “feral dogs are invasive alien species, and their capture, hunting and control will be allowed under conditions stipulated by law”.  The legislative proposal would also allow the health authority to adopt specific control measures to prevent and contrast the threats posed by feral dogs to humans, livestock and other wild animals.

Supporters of the proposal claim that feral dogs have a negative impact on the environment, as they (1) kill wild animals, (2) upset the balance of the ecosystem, (3) transmit diseases to wild animals, (4) compete with wild animals for preys, (5) breed with closely related species.

The proposal actually embraces the demand of livestock breeders, who claim that feral dogs attack and kill their animals. It seems likely that the concern of the bill supporters regarding the welfare of wildlife is just an excuse, considering the economic interests of farmers and hunters.

WHY OIPA CHILE IS PROTESTING

Many dogs that are considered feral are actually owned dogs that are allowed to roam freely and unsupervised. In most cases, attacks to livestock and wild fauna are committed by owned free-roaming dogs – not by feral ones. Therefore, the root cause of the problem has to be sought in irresponsible pet ownership. Instead of exterminating these creatures (which is basically like sweeping dust under the rug), Chile should invest in educating people on pet ownership. Anyone who owns or wishes to own a dog should register and microchip their pet, while the veterinary health service should encourage neutering and spaying. The bad habit of dog abandonment is the true origin of the packs of feral dogs.

The application of the bill would increase the risk of indiscriminate killing, giving hunters the opportunity to shoot dogs that are found at least 200 meters from houses. Because it is impossible to determine whether a dog is owned or not only by its appearance, especially from a distance, this rule is a senseless. A real distinction between feral and owned dog can only be made through lab analysis of the feces or the stomach contents. The bill therefore also would allow hunting and killing those dogs that are owned by irresponsible people that let them run free.

Photo: Libera Chile

The existing 21.020 Law regarding responsible pet ownership grants a special legal status to cats and dogs. It provides for mass sterilization, identification of non-owned pets and capture and rehabilitation of dangerous dogs. By correctly implementing this Law and allocating more resources, the “feral dogs” problem would not exist in the country. The legislative proposal therefore goes in the opposite direction of the 21.020 Law, which aims at raising respect for domestic animals and prohibits the use of lethal methods to control the canine population. It makes no sense to punish pet abandonment and require owners to take good care of their pets while, on the other side, authorizing dog hunting.

Legalizing the killing of dogs is a step back. It is a savage proposal that will not solve the problem. The real solution would be responsible ownership and sterilization of both owned and non-owned dogs, not hunting or mass killing.  Dogs should never pay the price of the irresponsible conduct of their owners and the lack of effective measures by the government.

NO A LA LEY DE CAZA DE PERROS!

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But she felt lonely and suffered from major depression. One day, last Thursday, she made her final decision. She slit her wrists at her place in front of her beloved four-legged friends.

When her friends realised what was happening, it was already too late. Her last words were for her pets. With her last forces, she asked her friend Margarita to take care of her pets and look for a new family for them.

She had fifteen pets: 10 dogs and 5 cats; all of them had been rescued from the street.

Even in the pain for their loss of a friend, OIPA and freelance volunteers jumped into action to find a forever family to Karin’s pets. OIPA vice-representative Angela featured in a TV program (‘Coffee Break’, Canal 21) and told the story of Karin and her pets.

Fortunately, and thanks to the efforts of the volunteers, ALL Karin’s pets have been adopted in a few days! We are very sure she would have been happy to see this.

The sad story of Karin should make us reflect: it may be wise to consider, who will look after my pet when I die? You cannot simply assume your pet will be taken on by friends or family members. Actually this doesn’t happen that often.

For this, it is a wide idea to include your pets in your will. Also, you should have a real conversation with your family members about looking after your pets, so as to be sure that your pet’s welfare is taken into account when you pass away.

It is a big responsibility to have one or more pets, and if we really love them, we have a moral duty to plan for our pets after we are gone.

A warm hug to Karin’s family and friends – both human and nonhuman.

Read more about OIPA activities in Chile here 

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The most violent clashes occurred in Santiago, but protests happened all over the nation.

This situation of unrest is something new and of difficult understanding for the many free-roaming dogs that populate the Chilean streets. Just think that an estimated 253 thousand stray dogs live in Chile, most of them in urban areas.

OIPA has a team of volunteers in Chillán, the capital city of the Ñuble Region, central Chile. Over the most turbulent days, they have rescued dogs who are in greater danger – puppies, old, fat and with impaired mobility ones. They have then brought the dogs in a safe place, a creperie with a large outdoor area where dogs have been sheltered during the “hottest” days.

Indeed, the use of tear-gas during demonstrations poses a danger to the life and health of free-roaming dogs, which wander the streets in complete panic. Moreover, fear can sometimes also turn the most peaceful dog in a nasty one. Fortunately, people who are protesting often take care of stray dogs and do their best to make them safe.

Solidarity among protesters and stray dogs has a long tradition in Chile.

In 2011, Chile was in the wave of student protests. One day, a stray dog joined the young protesters in a demonstration. Nice with the students, he was instead aggressive towards the Chilean police officers.

He soon became known as “Negro Matapacos” – a slang for black cop-killer. He has then continued to take part in protests for years.

Negro Matapacos remains an icon, the canine face of socialism and revolution.

A big thank you to Samuel, Angela and all other volunteers that are taking care of stray dogs in such a turbulent time.

If you want to support OIPA Chile and our rescue operation, please make a donation here. Remember to earmark your donation for “OIPA Chile”

L'articolo CHILE PROTESTS: OIPA RESCUES THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS proviene da OIPA.

It mainly consists in pinning a cow up against a padded wall.

The horsemen are called ‘HUASOS’. They work in pairs and try to score points by pinning a calf (‘NOVILLO’) up against a padded section of the arena’s wall. Depending on how well the cow is pinned and other manoeuvring of it determines how many points each pair of huasos receives or looses.

Rodeo season usually starts on September 18, the Chilean national day. Over the following 6 months, regional competitions are held, whose winners will then participate to the national championship that take place in Rancagua at the beginning of April.

Rodeo is maybe one of Chile’s national sports. It was recognized as sports discipline in the 1960s, with its own regulations. There are now very specific rules on cattle breeds that can be used for the competition and requirements for horsemen’s participation (including the traditional dress they have to wear).

Many consider rodeo a quaint Chilean custom, a historic practice; while those who care about animals see rodeo as an expression of cruelty, and nothing more. A defenceless calf is caused severe pain, stress and harm. Can this be considered a sport??

There have been many protests from Chilean animal rights activists in the last period. They stressed that a bill currently being discussed envisages a reform of the legislation on animal protection. In particular, they ask for an amendment of the law 20.380 on Animal Protection. The proposal was submitted by Deputy Félix González, with the support of the NGO Animal Libre.

Article 16 of the above mentioned law states that “the provision of this law shall not apply to sports that involve animals, such as rodeo, bullfight, and equestrian sports, which shall be governed by their own regulations”.

According to the supporters of this initiative, this limitation of the scope of the law prevents the sanctioning of acts of severe mistreatment against animals. Therefore, they ask for the application of the provisions of the law to all those activities that foresee the use of animals.

5 reasons to call for an end of rodeos

(source: https://www.eldesconcierto.cl/2016/08/19/cinco-razones-para-rechazar-el-rodeo/)

1-Cruelty towards animals

This is the most powerful reason why many people ask for the definite ending of rodeos. Calves suffer sharp blows that provoke bruises, breakings, internal bleeding and sometimes death. Horses, as well as calves, are exposed to the risk of severe damage to health.

2-A lack of rules

As already mentioned, the Chilean law on Animal Protection does not apply to Equestrian sports. Therefore, this kind of animals is poorly protected by rules.

3-Not a show for families

When they go to see a rodeo event, children and young people are exposed to horrific scenes of animal abuse that might be the cause of psychological problems. Some studies have suggested that watching violent behaviour makes them predisposed to reiterate this type of acts.

In other words, we are creating future abusers.

4-It is an activity for elites

Throughout its history, the rodeo has been deeply connected to the wealthiest rural classes. Indeed, a great deal of money is involved in rodeos; participating to regional and national competitions is incredibly expensive. Rodeo is an outdated and sectarian practice that casts a shadow over its nature of national sport.

5-Animals are not items of entertainment; and animal cruelty is not an expression of a national identity

Rodeo is still upheld in the name of tradition. However, a free and developed society cannot find justification to such a bloody tradition.

Electrocution, solid blows, psychological and physical exhaustion: this is what calves suffer before and during competitions.

TORTURING A DEFENCELESS ANIMAL SHOULD NEVER BE CELEBRATED AS TRADITION.

For more information, contact OIPA Chile at chile@oipa.org

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On-the-spot checks have been carried out by Samuel Molina, OIPA Chile Vice-Representative, because of his expertise in animal welfare. The checks revealed the appalling conditions in which the animals were kept.

First, most of the dogs belong to the breed of the pointers – that is totally inappropriate for this kind of activities and for the harsh climate of the Nevados de Chillán.

Secondly, the dogs were found tied to thick chains that stopped them from moving freely, and in poor health conditions.

Furthermore, all of them were underweight and didn’t have a place to rest and shelter from the cold.

The Hotel owners defended themselves against accusations of animal mistreatment, adding that an outside firm manages the dog sledding service.

In a recent interview, OIPA Vice-Representative Samuel Molina stated ‘It might be assumed at first sight that the dogs are clearly mistreated, they lack the access to good nutrition, and risk to get freezed’. ‘For the dog sledding service, the responsible company is using pointers, and this is against the law. Indeed, only huskies can be used as sled dogs’. Samuel Molina stressed that ‘Pointers are short-haired dogs, they are not fit to live at low temperatures. They are usually used for hunting at lower altitudes’.

See the interview with Samuel Molina HERE

OIPA Chile will follow the legal proceedings, hoping to see justice served.

We thank OIPA Chile for having unearthed this bad case of animal mistreatment.

If you want to support OIPA Chile activities, please make a donation. Earmark the purpose of the payment: OIPA Chile 

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The bill in question is intended to amend the law N°20.380 on animal protection, with the specific aim of prohibiting and punishing the organization of greyhound racing.

The lawyer Maria Celeste Jimenez, animal rights specialist, explains that the Commission approved the idea to legislate with respect to the prohibition of greyhound racing, by amending article 16 of the law on Animal Protection, on the basis that greyhound racing cannot be considered a sport activity.

The Commission accepted the request of those who speak out for the weak. We all keep our fingers crossed that the draft law will definitely become law soon!

Chile is not the first South American country to prohibit dog racing.

In 2016, Argentina passed a law that criminalized greyhound racing. Similarly, last year the government of Uruguay passed a decree, ordering a comprehensive ban on dog racing because it takes place in a field of mistreatment of animals.

The decision of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources was influenced by a large group of Chilean veterinarians, that have recently come out in favour of the prohibition of dog racing. On June 27, 222 of them submitted an official letter to the Chamber of Deputies and the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. The statement contained a list of reasons for a total dog-racing ban.

Among these:

– Exhausting physical training to obtain maximum speed and performance. This kind of training is incompatible with animal welfare, eg. forcing the dog to run, tied with a string to the back of a motorcycle or a pickup.

Dogs used for racing have a lower life expectancy, in comparison to their own kind (2/3 years versus 10/12 years).

– Selection and breeding. In order to obtain a “champion”, it is necessary to make a selection among tens and tens of dogs.

 It is estimated that 8,000 dogs born every year for racing in New South Wales, Australia. Of these, 3,000 are killed for being too slow (Hoetzer, 2015).

In the U.S. 60,000 greyhounds are used for racing, while 30,000 of them are killed every year (Atkinson and Young, 2005).
The ‘champions’ are treated with a lot of care, while those who are not winners are discarded, based on the cost-benefit concept (Markwell et al., 2017).

This breed is characterized by the possibility to develop bone cancer (Dobson, 2013). Dogs with cancer, of course, do not receive the necessary medical treatment.
In Chile these figures are unknown. However, it is reasonable to think that life conditions of racing dogs in Chile are actually harder than in other countries.

–  Confinement for a prolonged period. Dogs are locked in a cage or tied to a string for a long period of time. They are let out only to receive training. Their ethological needs are not taken into consideration. The confinement can also cause the overproduction of cortisol, a hormone that can weaken the inmune system.

– Every single dog used for racing will have many injuries, throughout its life. Because of the high impact speed, fractures and traumas can be severe. Expensive and sophisticated techniques would be necessary to treat the dogs in such cases.

The veterinarians affirm that in the exercise of their profession they had to amputate the leg to many dogs for lesions attributable to fall injuries.

– Characteristics of greyhound racing in Chile:

– It is not a sport.

The description of greyhound racing in Chile does not qualify it as sport activity, according to the Sports Act 19.712

Some examples of sport activities with the participation of dogs are: agility, trekking, disc dog, canicross, etc. In these sports dogs are trained using rewards and positive reinforcement, and by taking care of their specific needs. This does not happen in greyhound racing.

– Dogs are not trained

Contrary to sport activities set out in the previous paragraph, dogs used for racing are not trained and immediately after the race they are confined in cages.

– There are violations of the assumptions on responsible pet ownership within the terms of the law n. 20.020.

Even though the law can be improved, it has led to substancial progress. It foresees, for instance, that the owner of a dog is responsible for his pet’s health, which includes regular veterinary care. Dogs used for race are subjected to extreme excercise and only rarely undergo medical examination.

In conclusion, Chilean veterinarians consider greyhound racing a practice that “objectifies animals and causes unnecessary suffering”.

Greyhounds are shamelessly exploited. We all hope the draft law will soon become law. The recently established office of OIPA in Chile did not contribute to this success…but sends its cogratulations to Galgo Libre and the other associations that struggled to this end.

L'articolo CHILE: A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE ABOLITION OF GREYHOUND RACING proviene da OIPA.

NEW VISIONS UPON THE CHILEAN CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

After several months of investigation, it can be asserted that the Chilean situation related to the cruelty to animals is worrying, especially in the Nuble Region. The main points identified by the volunteers are the cats and dogs abandonment and the animal violence as the mutilation of their reproductive organs.
These conditions are the result of the Chilean lack of education, responsible care, and authorities commitment. For what concerns the Chilean law about the cruelty to animals, it is restricted and limited providing no protection to the animals.

In the past few years in Chile, the animals were considered ‘home furniture’. This attitude led to the construction of massive animal reproduction centres around the Chilean territory.
Nowadays, the volunteers are trying to face the situation providing shelter to the stray animals and trying to find adoptions at their own expenses. In this context, the Municipality is not providing any services. Other terrible situations are those referring to the mistreatment of dogs greyhounds during the rodeos, and the organisations of fights between dogs and roosters.

The aim of this article is to provide just a general vision of the situation while a more detailed analysis is going to be provided inside the OIPA Facebook page.
The 2nd of May, OIPA Chile held a meeting at the Municipality of Chillán, the capital of the Nuble Region, which has been attended by the Chillán’s independent private animal volunteers, the animal associations, vets, and the town councilman Jorge Vaccaro who support the animalist theme.
In this occasion, there were delineated forty priorities. This moment has represented the first time such an event has been organised in Chillán history. The 8 of May a second meeting will take place. The Chillán Mayor is due to attend the event as well as the media, one representative of the authority ‘Los Carabinieros’ and one representative of the Police, the Councilman Jorge Vaccaro, Angela Ricci, Samuel Molina, and the Proach (the Chillán animal association, member of the International OIPA Federation).
The main target of the meeting is to work with the Mayor for bigger commitments and funds in order to address massive stray dogs and cats sterilization, and the realization of both a centre for the animal sterilization than a shelter for the accommodation of stray dogs and emergency cases.
Moreover, inside the priorities list there is the creation of an organism of control and the improvement of the cooperation among the Municipality, animal volunteers, the OIPA, vets, and professional dog rescuers, and the organisation of a professional team of rescuers for emergency cases as earthquakes and blazes. In addition, there is the need to finance the creation of a mobile vet clinic for animal sterilization to be implemented in the countryside areas.
Lastly, is important to push for the implementation, in collaboration with the Police and the Carabinieros, of a complaint system to address the several situations of animal mistreatments, and to educate the authorities on the mistreatment laws and the sustainable animal possession.
In conclusion, OIPA Chile works to educate new generations to the respect of animals, especially through projects through the Ministry of Education.

Angela Ricci new representative OIPA Chile

NUEVAS VISIONES SOBRE EL MALTRATO CHILENO DE LOS ANIMALES

Después de una investigación de varios meses en Chile, en particular en la Región Nuble, se encontraron muchos problemas graves sobre el tema del maltrato de los animales.
Entre las problemáticas mayores se pueden evidenciar las condiciones de abandono en las que suelen vivir los perros y los gatos en las varias calles. A esta situación dramatica se añaden las violencias que cometen los seres humanos contra los animales de las calles y en particular la mutilación de sus órganos reproductores.
En estos meses se evidenció la falta de compromisos por parte de las autoridades chilenas. En relación a la ley nacional chilena, esta no se presenta adecuada y eficaz dejando los animales sin alguna protección.
En los años pasados, como consecuencia de la moda de la gente de poseer en sus casas mascotas en cuanto se solía considerarlos como ‘muebles’, se produjo una masiva edificación de centros de reprodución animales, los cuales al terminar de esta tendencia dejaron decenas de animales por las calles. En los dias presentes, de fundamental importancia es el trabajo de los voluntarios ocupados en compensar el problema rescatando los animales abandonados y fornecendole abrigo, todo esto gastando sus sueldos mensuales y recebendo ninguna ayuda de la Municipalidad u otras autoridades.
El dia 2 de mayo 2019 se realizó en la Municipalidad de Chillán un evento organizado por OIPA Chile al cual participaron todos los animalistas independientes privados de Chillán, las agrupaciones animalistas de  Chillán, los veterinarios de la Municipalidad de Chillán y un concejal Jorge Vaccaro  que apoya el tema animalista. En esta mesa, la cual fue la primera a ser organizada en toda la historia de Chillán, se evidenciaron cuarentas prioridades. En el dia 8 de mayo 2019, se organizará una segunda mesa con la partecipación del Alcalde de Chillán, acompañado con los medios de comunicaciones, un representante de los Carabineros, un representante de la PDI Policía, todos los animalistas activos, el Concejal Jorge Vaccaro, Angela Ricci y Samuel Molina y también la Proach ( agrupación animalista de Chillán, primer miembro cileno a tomar parte de la  Federación OIPA).

En esta ocasión se terá la oportunidad de pedir al Alcalde mayores compromisos y fondos de ayuda para la esterilización masiva de perros y gatos, la creación de un centro de esterilización animales especifico por aquellos abandonados en las calles, la construcción de refugios pro animales de la calle o por necesidad de casos urgentes y por último la creación de un organismo de fiscalización y fortalecer la colaboración entre la Municipalidad, los animalistas, la OIPA, los veterinarios y los rescatistas profesionales al fin de fornir un aparato capaz de enfrentar a los incidentes catástroficos como terremotos o incendios y absorber las varias denuncias de maltrato de los animales.

Angela Ricci nueva representante OIPA Chile

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