Fury over Puerto Rico pet massacre sparks Web petition drive

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The fury over the massacre of dozens of seized dogs and cats in Puerto Rico has gone global.

Thousands of people from Puerto Rico and around the world have signed an online petition calling on the governor of the U.S. Caribbean territory to ensure those who hurled some 80 pets off a highway bridge last week are brought to justice.

Nadia Donato, a 39-year-old New Yorker, said Wednesday that an Associated Press story that appeared Friday about the slaughter of the dogs and cats drove her to tears -- and to launch the petition drive.

A local activist will deliver the list of names and messages to Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila's residence in San Juan during a demonstration Sunday, Donato said.

The petition's Web site lists more than 6,000 signatures. Many who signed are from Puerto Rico, but signatures also appear from such far-flung countries as Finland, Argentina, Malaysia and Australia.

"I sincerely feel very furious," Zariely Marie Arroyo Cintron of Puerto Rico, signer No. 5,839, wrote to the governor. "Please investigate and do justice. These people don't deserve to be called Puerto Rican."

Julio Diaz, owner of the company that was hired by the town of Barceloneta to remove dogs and cats from three housing projects, has denied his employees flung the 50 pets and 30 strays from the bridge west of San Juan last week. Barceloneta officials said their role in the handling of the animals ended once they were loaded into vehicles of the company, Animal Control Solutions.

Police are investigating. Puerto Rico police chief Pedro Toledo has said those responsible could face cruelty charges that carry six-month to three-year prison terms.

About 100 protesters, some accompanied by their pets, marched in front of Puerto Rico's legislature Wednesday to urge strengthening of animal-protection laws. They placed a flower arrangement in front of the capitol building along with three toy stuffed dogs, to represent the animals killed last week.

"We are here because this is where the laws and the projects come from that will benefit the animals," said Miguel Alameda, an animal welfare activist.