The Animal Welfare Organization of Cuba (BAC-Habana) issued an urgent national appeal on Saturday, demanding proof of life for a dog left behind during evacuations in Granma. This tale has sparked widespread indignation throughout the country.
"This isn't just another post. It's the cry of a little dog left alone, gazing at the sky where his friend disappeared," BAC expressed.
In collaboration with local volunteers, BAC called for public assistance to locate the dog, promising to cover all expenses related to its rescue, veterinary care, and transportation.
On social media, they sharply criticized the official media coverage:
"Why are official outlets romanticizing animal abandonment in Bayamo with poetic narratives?"
Taking action, BAC initiated a campaign to flood social media with the image of the howling dog, now a symbol of betrayed loyalty and unvoiced pain.
They urged Cubans to update their profile pictures with the dog's face:
"Let Facebook, Instagram, and all networks be filled with his face and his plea. Let every notification, every comment, and every story carry the same message: We demand proof of life for the Bayamo dog!"
BAC's appeal aims not only to save the animal but also to denounce an institutional attitude that, amid catastrophe, portrayed what many see as a crime—the abandonment of a living being during an emergency—as poetry.
The Beginning of the Story
The saga began with a series of images published by CMKX Radio Bayamo, an official media outlet in Granma.
Under the title "The Pain of Departure," they depicted a solitary dog amid the mud, staring intently at a departing military helicopter carrying away its owner.
This scene unfolded during evacuations caused by the overflow of the Cauto River, which devastated communities in the region and left thousands homeless. Amid the chaos, an Army helicopter rescued a family, inexplicably leaving their dog behind.
"No one there knew his name, but it didn't matter. We saw him lift his snout and howl... a howl mixed with pain and resignation..."
This lyrical excerpt from the broadcaster's text sparked outrage on social media. Rather than evoking tenderness, it triggered a massive backlash.
Viral Reaction to the Images
Comments quickly went viral. Thousands of Cubans expressed their sorrow, anger, and disbelief at the decision to abandon the dog, and even more so at the attempt to justify it with poetic metaphors. Some of the most shared responses included:
"Do they think this is positive? Speechless."
"A chronicle of animal abuse. With photos included."
"They left the poor animal in a flood zone. And they want applause?"
"I'd rather drown than leave one of my pets behind."
"That dog would go wherever I go. I'm sure he wouldn't have left his owner alone."
"It's a cruel act. No poetry can justify abandonment."
"And the dog? We want to know if it was rescued! What they did is unforgivable!"
Social media, typically fragmented by censorship and fear, united in a single outcry.
Even outside Cuba, many Cubans shared messages like:
"What I love about the country I live in is that they'd never leave behind a dog in an evacuation."
"If you abandon the dog... you'll have nightmares about events that will happen later."
The uproar reached Cuban poet Alexis Díaz-Pimienta, who quoted one of his verses to condemn the incident. From his social media, he cited a fragment from his poem "I Could Have Been Jacques Daguerre":
"If you abandon the dog, the secret memory of the house will go with him... your past will sleep outdoors, and you'll have nightmares about events that will happen later."
The quote became one of the day's most shared messages. Many saw it not only as a critique of the act itself but as a moral warning: leaving behind the most loyal has consequences beyond the visible.
The Fate of the Bayamo Dog
As the Cauto River's levels slowly recede, one question persists: What happened to the Bayamo dog?
Is it still waiting in the mud and debris? Was it finally rescued? Is it injured? Did it die waiting?
BAC-Habana has urgently requested information from volunteers, shelters, and independent protectors in Granma.
They have offered resources and logistics to bring it to safety. However, neither official media nor authorities have responded so far.
"Let's not allow his story to end in abandonment," BAC concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bayamo Dog Incident
Why did BAC-Habana issue an urgent call about the abandoned dog?
BAC-Habana issued an urgent call to demand proof of life for the dog abandoned in Granma. Their appeal aims to save the animal and denounce the official narrative that romanticized its abandonment as poetic.
What sparked the outrage about the dog left behind in Bayamo?
Outrage was sparked by a series of images published by an official media outlet showing a dog left behind during evacuations, portrayed in a poetic manner that many saw as insensitive and unjustifiable.
How did social media users react to the abandonment?
Social media users expressed widespread anger and disbelief, criticizing the decision to leave the dog behind and the attempt to justify it with poetic language. The incident unified social media users in a collective outcry.
What efforts are being made to locate the Bayamo dog?
BAC-Habana, along with volunteers, is actively searching for the dog. They've offered resources for its rescue and care, urging local shelters and protectors to provide information on its whereabouts.