Venezuelans are leaving their pets to starve as economic crisis worsens
Widespread food shortages have affected both people and animals in Venezuela
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Venezuelans are having to abandon their starving pets as the already severe economic crisis continues to worsen.
Forced to choose between feeding themselves or their animals, middle-class Venezuelans are abandoning their pets in the streets in never-seen-before numbers.
An animal protection and control centre in the capital is seeing as many as 10 animals abandoned each day this summer, a surge from about a year ago when there were almost none.
Katty Quintas, director of the Animal and Environment Protection Foundation (Funasissi), said pet owners are abandoning cats and dogs "not because they don't want them” but “because now the problem is how to feed them."
Pet owners say the price of dog food has more than doubled in recent months to 2 US dollars a pound - more than a day's pay for those earning the minimum wage.
Zoo animals have also suffered from the nationwide food shortages, when in July it was reported that 50 residents of a large Caracas zoo had died.
In response to stories highlighting the plight of Venezuela’s animals, Ernesto Paiva, the Minister of Eco-socialism and Water, claimed that the country's opposition was to blame, saying they were creating idea "that Venezuela is a country where even the animals are starving and that is completely not true."
Large protests continue to take place against the government of President Maduro, who was captured on video being chased by a group of angry protesters banging pots.
Additional reporting by AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments