Animal rights groups warn of abandoned pets as Cubans flee in record numbers

Cubans are fleeing their homes in record numbers, fueled by fears of shifting U.S. immigration policy and poverty caused by mass inflation, as reported on Saturday, Oct. 12. More than 1 million Cubans have reportedly left the nation since 2020, which is around a tenth of the island's population.

Additionally, many Cubans are resorting to a dangerous journey, sailing the open sea on makeshift rafts toward the U.S. and other destinations. Hundreds of people have reportedly drowned or gone missing in search of a new home.

Cuba's government claims the problem will only get worse, blaming the United States sanctions for tanking its economy and forcing the high migration numbers.

The mass exodus of Cubans also means more pets are being abandoned in the nation. Animal rights groups say they have rescued hundreds of dogs and cats and warn that the situation is getting worse.

Most Cubans reportedly cannot afford to bring their pets with them to another country. Trips to the U.S. and elsewhere cost thousands of dollars, and many Cubans only make about $21 a month. It has forced many migrants to abandon pets and seek the cheapest yet most dangerous option of getting on a raft or poorly constructed boat at sea.

A coastal resident of Cuba who survived a shipwreck told Reuters that he believes another wave of immigration is inevitable, and he'd been offered a seat on a boat, which he declined. He said, "It's going to kick off again at any moment."

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