Regulations to avoid animal abuse

Regulations to avoid animal abuse

        I remember the day I went to my mom’s work, a veterinary clinic, and a concerned business man and his beloved dog came in. It was a beautiful pregnant great dane that couldn’t give birth to her puppies; the only way to try to save them all was through a caesarea. When the veterinarian was removing all the babies that were inside the female uterus she noticed that one of the puppies was dead, maybe due to time that they were inside the mother. After the doctor completed the surgery there was nothing to do, besides wait. However time was against that beautiful dog’s life, and after a couple of hours she was dead. She was intoxicated by one of her kids that died by the incompetency of the owner. The owner let passed almost a week, after the dog started to show signs of giving birth, before taking her to the clinic. Unfortunately a marvelous great dane had to die before this “bussiness man” realizes that the risk of a breeding business wasn’t worth it.

        Dogs are distinguished and well-knowned for their loyalty, warmth and peculiaties characterisitic of each dog’s breed. That is why, throughout centuries, dogs have been considered human best friends and companions. However, real friends don’t abuse and they don’t hurt each other, not even for money. What kind of friends, caretakers or parents are those people that treat their dogs like puppies factories. It is considered cruel and morally unacceptable to take advantage of an animals that behave based in their instincts and aren’t aware of the consequences of their acts.

        Some people acquire pets to be part of their families. Many times they skipped the most important part, education. In order to be ready for this responsibility they should seek for information. A decision that pet’s owners should take is to spay or neuter at an early age their pets, this will minimize cancer possibility and in the case of the males will also minimize prostate problems giving the pets a longer and better lives. They should learn about the breed and their particularities so they will know if it is the right dog for them. But I believe the most important decision should be if it will be a pet or just an animal for reproduction.

        Roughly there are two types of pet breeders those who deeply care about their animals and those who don’t, and whose acts are cold. At the time of selling the animals, the first type will look for responsible homes that can take care of them. On the contrary, the second type will always search for the best deal. Usually the second type, of pet breeder, is not emotionally involved after selling or losing one of their dogs. What can we expect of these people whose behaviour is controlled by the profits? For sure we cannot expect a lot of compassion nor humanity from them. Even though, they have the right to breed dogs for sale. However their business should be regulated, restricted and forced to follow some rules in order to decrease animal exploitation.

        In Puerto Rico the law 154 look for the well being and protection of animals. Among the issues that states is the prohibition of selling animals in the streets, roads and public places. Though it does not restricts who can carry on the business of selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale. That is why many irresponsible and ignorant people make a lucrative business out of exploiting dogs. There should be a legislation that regulates the amount of animal reproduction that a dog can bear or the time between pregnancies, their life conditions, feeding and management.

        Many may agree with the establishment of severe regulations but others won’t because can be economically affected. For that reason through dialogue we must look for other, besides the mentioned before, equitative and satisfactory desicion that can benefit both groups and still protect animal’s well being. We must look after those whose company, love and protection are unconditional.

Exodus of professionals in Puerto Rico

Exodus of professionals in Puerto Rico

Through decades human beings have demonstrate great determination and commitment with himself and his love’s ones, always looking for their safety and well being. They are always looking for a better life quality and higher salaries, things that allows them to progress in society. Generally, to change the determining factor is out their hands and is defined by the society and/or the system. That is why many leave their country and look for places where they can develop professionally and where they can achieve profitable jobs. Nowadays, Puerto Rico suffers an economical and political crisis, a fact that is influencing thousandths of puertoricans to establish in the United States. An exodus starts when a mass of people changed their residency to another place temporarily or for an unlimited amount of time. If we hear the news or read the papers we realize that today is the time where the exodus of professionals is taking place.

At the present time Puerto Rico undergo for high rates of unemployment, the close of industries, political and economical difficulties, among other things. As well, the cost of life have increased and an imposition of a new sale and services tax, known as IVU, has forced qualified and professional persons to look for other opportunities beyond our island, in the United States. As American citizens we have the option to freely cross the border and start a new life in a new place without much complication. We must remember that a part of the population that decide to leave, Puerto Rico, have a job waiting for them. As an example we can see how graduated engineers from the University of Mayaguez, thanks to their preparation and capacities, are recruited by NASA and prominent corporations. (USATODAY, 2006) They in some way facilitate the transition of these persons, from being a student to a worker, and help’s them to avoid the hard task that is to look for a job.

According to the “Junta de Planificación de Puerto Rico” there is no real exodus of “brains”. However, the statistics, published by them, shows that even if the biggest group that emigrates does not have bachelor degree, it is higher the percent of emigrants with bachelor’s degree, 18.8%, than those staying, 16.5%. The percentage of professionals that decide to abandon Puerto Rico is higher than those who remained, which implies that there is an exodus of professionals or “brains”. (Vega, 2003)

Emigration in Puerto Rico is not something new, it happened before. An example was in the 16^th century where most spaniards decided to leave to Peru; a place where they hope to find what this little island couldn’t provide them, gold and opportunities. It was a chance to improve their economical status. However, the effect that this exodus had on Puerto Rico was meaningful; it produced population imbalance and deterioration of the economy, among other impacts. The 21^th exodus is producing similar impacts, to those in the past. There have being an increase in the difference in population with bachelor degree and those who don’t. Also, while qualified people leave, the demand increase and the supply decrease, increasing the cost of services, the cost of life and deteriorating the economy of most families. These similarities confirm the existence of a leak among our population.

Statistical data demonstrate the exodus that Puerto Rico is living. History provides us the chance to compare and evaluate current situation with the past and confirm our thesis. In order to maintain a balance, society and the government must take action, incentive the work in the island, offer wider opportunities and relief the weight that impulse people to take this decision. Most professional that abandon Puerto Rico are those who can’t find a stable and profitable job, where they can’t, efficiently, use what they were trained for; mostly are persons that don’t feel satisfy with what we have and expect to find more and better opportunities in a different environment, a “new place”.

Reference List

Vega, L. M. (2003). Comparación y descripción de la población emigrante y población residente para detectar fuga de capital humano en Puerto Rico. Gobierno de P.R.: Junta de Planificación.

U.S. need for bilingual speakers lures Puerto Ricans (2006).USATODAY. Retrieved Nov. 20, 2008, from
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-27-puertorico_x.htm;