Animal rights groups caution that 500 pets still remain in Chaiten

SANTIAGO.- “We let up yesterday because there was concrete action taken, but today we are going to continue to pressure authorities”, stated Alejandra Cassino, the director of the Coalition for the Ethical Control of Urban Fauna (CEFU) (which is leading the campaign to rescue the pets of Chaitén) while referring to the Army operation carried out yesterday to rescue some 100 animals.

“The problem is that there are still 500 animals and that accounts for 80% of the population we are hoping to save” said Cassino, adding that she hopes yesterday’s operation “was not just a government display to keep us calm”.

“We don’t want this to be some kind of fireworks show to divert attention from the bad response on the part of evacuees after the minister of Interior, Edmundo Pérez Yoma, announced the aid bonuses”, she added.

Concerning the animals that were rescued yesterday, Alejandra has said that veterinarians linked to the associations sponsoring the campaign will travel to Santa Lucía today (where the animals are being held) to examine their overall health.