Activists March For Animal Rights
 
Hundreds of animal rights protesters marched through Viña del Mar last Sunday in an effort to draw attention to the plight of Chile’s animals.

 

                                 

The Viña protest was part of a national campaign spearheaded by AnimaNaturalis and ‘Movement fro the Protection of Animal Rights’ (MPDA). Both groups work to highlight animal mistreatment in Chile. The Sunday rally focused upon the plight street dogs, circus animals, livestock, and other agricultural animals. In a city where street dog overpopulation is a growing problem, the campaign for animal rights has special relevance. (VT, 10 September)
 
“You only need to take a quick look around Viña or Valparaíso to notice the problem,” Daniela Echiburú Saavedra, one of the rally organizers, told the Santiago Times. “Homeless street dogs are everywhere, and the problem is only growing worse. They suffer malnutrition and exposure to the elements – but society as a whole isn’t open to the possibility of a solution. Many people are happy to complain about the number of dogs living on our streets, but we want to encourage people to view the dogs as living creatures, and not just pests.”

According to the AnimaNaturalis  website, Viña del Mar was one of ten regional centers hosting an animal rights rally on Sunday. Chile’s efforts were mirrored the world over, in what was described by AnimaNaturalis  as a “Worldwide March for Animal Rights.” Region V AnimaNaturalis  director Ricardo Cirio described the worldwide campaign as a drive to “establish and defend the rights of animals (the world over).”

“We believe that animals possess fundamental rights,” he said. “Basic rights that they shouldn’t be overlooked, such as the right to a life free from mistreatment or torture. Animals deserve respect and empathy, too.”

While a handful of police officers escorted the rally, the protesters maintained a peaceful presence throughout the afternoon. Indeed, dressed in animal costumes and accompanied by household pets, the rally managed to convey its message with a great energy.

With the Worldwide Day of Animal Rights protest now history, activists are turning to the problems of the future.

“As I mentioned, street dog overpopulation is a major issue in the ‘Valpo’ region,” Saavedra said. “The council is taking steps to tackle the problem - installing more animal shelters and examining breeding patterns – and we’re hoping to compliment their efforts.

“Animal mistreatment within Chilean circuses is also still very common – much more so than in most U.S or European circuses. With a series of circuses scheduled to perform in Viña del Mar over summer, we’re hoping to draw the public’s attention to the problem, so that the circuses will finally get the message.”

For more information on the animal rights campaign in Chile and South America, visit www.animanaturalis.org .

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO