It's Admirable to Have members in our Society like Ivelisse Leonor de Porcella, Founder of PADELA, non-profit and Shelter in Sto. Dgo., Dominican Republic

The video above promotes a private non-profit organization in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This Video is narrated in Spanish, but translated below.

I am just humble by the dedication of this great lady Leonor Porcela, who is the founder of PADELA. She has been able with little resources and great dedication to help some homeless animals, and develop some consciousness to protect animals in our society.

The Homeless Dogs in Dominican Republic are known as the "Biralata" or "Realengo" Dogs. These misfortune animals are always around restaurants, butcher's shops, beaches...any place they might think they could get some food.

It is a Foot-print of the big and small cities in Dominican Republic, and a problem that it is just simple ignored by the society and the government.

"A female dog could get pregnant three times in a year, and she could have around eight puppies for each pregnancy. So if we add it up in eight years, we are talking about 80,000 dogs that will be subject to the same misfortune as their parents" Leonor Porcella.-

PADELA is a private non-profit organization founded by Ivelisse Leonor de Porcella in 1983, with the main objective to protect and promote the medical health of these misfortune animals. This organization is located in the old section of the city called "La Zona Colonial", and in this dog house some fortunate "Biralata" dogs will find their best refuge.

PADELA has a capacity for 15 dogs well accommodated; and as soon as they arrive are seen by a veterinarian doctor and cared upon their needs. They focus on spaying and neuter them as soon as they arrived to reduce over population. They are also groomed, feed and shelter until they are adopted by caring families.

This non-profit and it's members are appealing to implement an educational plan that helps develop consciousness to protect the animals in our society, and they have as a goal to build a Hospital Shelter for homeless animals in the area of Manoguayabo city in Santo Domingo.

"We always accept volunteers and need the help to walk the dogs or anything that might be necessary.  You cannot be left untouched by the faces of these loving animals, and not care for them...If you don't care when you see an animal in need or stress, give us a call that we will care for them." Leonor Porcella.-

Back in 2001, Two groups offered two different proposals to end the problem of homeless dogs roaming the streets of Santo Domingo. The Rabies Center is asking for land to build a dog pound. But the Animal Friends Foundations (PADELA) says it already has a piece of land and only wants the municipal council to provide a special shelter for the animals.

PADELA’s president Ivelisse Leonor de Porcella told El Caribe newspaper that her group has 6300 square meters of land available in the Bienvenido de Manoguayabo neighborhood.

The director of the National Rabies Center, Doctor Nelson Cunillera, feels a dog pound is the best solution to prevent not only massive numbers of dogs in the streets but also the number of dog bite cases involving homeless animals. The municipal Secretary General, Luis José Chavez, told El Caribe he is only aware of Doctor Cunillera’s proposal, not that of PADELA.

CONCLUSION

I think it's time we all make an effort and realize that every living species in the world has the right to be respected as such. In Dominican Republic, the "Biralata" or "Realengo" dogs are not only subject to be homeless but also to be mistreated by the own hands of our society.

We need to develop consciousness to protect and avoid the growth of homeless animals in our cities. This is not only inhumane and cruel, but also a sanitary and health issue in our communities, and our responsibility because out of all species in this world We are supposed to be the more developed one...So Let's prove that's a fact and let's start uniting our strengths to conquer a common goal.

I am currently asking for signatures to submit a petition to the Health Department and Mayor Office of Santo Domingo to be able to get subsidize for the creation of a hospital shelter in this city.

By The Law 248-12, these institutions are in the obligation to either create or subsidize shelters of their respective districts for these animals and provide basic medical care. This law was proclaimed in 2002 and 14 years there is not an institution that shelters and care for these homeless animals.

Cruel acts like The Live Stock show or "Feria Ganadera" staff members choose to do this present year by getting to the conclusions that is easier to poison and kill them rather than following the law, are just acts out of cowardice and ignorance.

It's a Shame to see these acts of inhumane cruelty not only in the 21st Century, but also and mostly in my own country.