Playa Lucia
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Playa Lucia is a beach within the municipality of Yabucoa in southeastern Puerto Rico.[1] Stephen McGarva learned of the grim nickname Dead Dog Beach as a part of his shocking discovery. All evidence points to it starting among non-local English speakers and the organization. Furthermore, the nickname is not used outside the rescue community and doesn't follow the colloquial language rhythm. Many Puerto Ricans consider the nickname offensive and part of a long history of colonizers degrading and depicting the global south as savages without taking into account the impact of colonialism on the socio-economic situation of their current and former subjects. The founder of the Sato Project is British and resides in the USA.[2] The organization claims that the nickname derives from Playa Lucia being a dumping ground for stray animals, mainly dogs, that the inhabitants of Yabucoa could no longer afford. This further proves that locals did not give the name since strays can be found throughout the island, not just Yabucoa. Beaches are a common dumping ground since locals erroneously believe that visitors would feed or adopt them.
The beach was known for having one of the highest concentrations of stray animals in Puerto Rico (source needed- This is unlikely since Yabucoa is a tiny municipality). Note: Many people erroneously believe dogs can survive on the beach with leftovers from weekend family parties or workers who take breaks along the local beaches. They also believe someone will find the animal and give them a new home. It attracted animal rights activists and groups hoping to make a difference. Many individuals who come are so moved by these animals' living conditions that they extend their stay to help. Various rescue projects, mostly natives working with no funders, focus on rescuing animals and their care. Many of these efforts were prompted by abuse of animals, even by local authorities, as in the Barceloneta Massacre in 2007.[3]
By 2014, a gate had been put up to deny access to people who would dump dogs on the beach, and Sato Project regularly monitors the beach for strays. The gate installation was controversial since local rescuers believe it would not stop people from going around the gate or leaving the dogs outside the gate, putting their lives at risk.
Geography and climate
[edit]
Puerto Rico, mainly a 90-by-30 mile island located in the Caribbean region, includes smaller islands off of its eastern coast. Its average temperatures range from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Its beaches stretch for hundreds of miles.[4] Along the northern coasts, are cliffs and a region known as the Karst region. This region contains notable land features such as caves, caverns, waterfalls, underground rivers and rain forests. Puerto Rico has the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic Ocean, known as the Puerto Rico Trench.[5] Notable rivers include the Guayanes River extends for 17 miles, as well as the Prieto, Arenas, Limones and Ingenio Rivers.[6]
Yabucoa is surrounded on three sides by the San Lorenzo Batholith and the Caribbean Sea. It is humid and mainly flat. Mountain ranges in this area include Santa Elena peak, Pandura, and the Cayey Range. Yabucoa valley consists mainly of farmland. It was originally a small mountain town.[6]
History
[edit]
The name Yubucoa means "place or site with waters", although some scholars believe it means "place of cassava".[6] The area was founded in 1793 when Manuel Colón de Bonillas and his wife, Catalina Morales Pacheco, donated the settlement.[6] Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony until 1898, when it became a U.S. territory.[7] Economic hardship dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Although briefly resolved, such hardships play a key role in the story of Dead Dog Beach. Yabucoa received popularity when in 1989 the WBO held a boxing championship there between Orlando Fernandez and Julio Gervacio. Fernandez' victory brought attention to the town and to Puerto Rico.[8]
Before The Sato Project calling it "Dead Dog Beach," Playa Lucia was a popular beach. It consisted of a pool, cabana facilities and other recreational activities. It became a wasteland: the pool was covered in graffiti, and full of garbage. The facilities were abandoned and without proper maintenance turned into ruins. The only visitors who roamed the area were dogs and cats among piles of pet carcasses.[9] As of 2014, a gate was put up to deny access to people who would dump dogs on the beach and Sato Project has been regularly monitoring the beach for strays.[10][11]
Causes
[edit]
Economy
[edit]The economy of Puerto Rico weakened under the weight of the 2017 hurricanes. Many individuals were forced to abandon their pets. Local shelters filled and individuals left the island.[12]
Culture
[edit]Most Puerto Ricans are willing to spay/neuter their pets, as shown by the thousands willing to stand in line at 5 am and wait hours during the spay-a-thons offered by local non profit organizations.[13] Unfortunately, most municipalities lack veterinary services, and in many cases, the cost is prohibitive for a population that is about 40% below the poverty line.[14]
Rescue projects
[edit]SATO Project
[edit]The Sato Project is an animal rescue project based in New York City that operates across the territory while mainly focusing on Dead Dog Beach. Launched in 2011 by Chrissy Beckles and her husband Bobby Beckles, it is the official rescue group in Yabucoa. The Sato Project is composed of teams that work together to ship the dogs to the continental U.S. The Sato Project joined a multi-phase campaign to facilitate and promote free spaying and neutering events in the area.
Other rescue operations
[edit]The Animal Rescue Foundation is an animal rescue project started in 1997 which primarily operates in Rincon. Its main focus is to rescue dogs and cats, provide spaying/neutering and adoption services, and to educate the community about pet safety.[15]
Barks For Hope is a rescue foundation started by Leo Roubian in 2014. Its primary goal is to provide aid and adoption for abandoned animals throughout the island. The operation offers transportation and medical care, including rehabilitation and rides to be spayed and neutered.[16]
Brevard Humane Society | Spay-A-Thon | ViDAS (Veterinarios Internacionales Dedicados a Animales Sanos)
[edit]The initiative, known as “Spay-A-Thon” for Puerto Rico, aims to provide high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services to 20,000 animals in underserved communities across the Commonwealth by May 2019. With the support of Governor Ricardo Rosselló and First Lady Beatriz Rosselló, the Brevard Humane Society, located in Brevard County, Florida, was the only local animal welfare organization to participate in this historic endeavor. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the most destructive storm on record in Puerto Rico, Dr. Zenaida Agriat-Rodriguez, veterinarian for Brevard Humane Society, joined VIDAS (Veterinarios Internacionales Dedicados an Animales Sanos) for a spay/neuter clinic in the territory's second largest city, Ponce. “We couldn’t be happier to help a community that was ravaged by a devastating hurricane which left thousands of animals homeless. This collaboration will undoubtedly make a real difference and impact on the welfare of Puerto Rico’s pets.” said Theresa Clifton, executive director of the Brevard Humane Society. [17] [18] [19]
Individual rescue efforts
[edit]Stephen McGarva moved to Puerto Rico in 2005, and, while exploring his new home, came face-to-face with the animals' plight. McGarva began feeding the dogs and cleaning their wounds daily, in the hope to make them more adoptable. McGarva remained in the territory for several years to take care of the animals before returning the U.S. where by sharing his experiences, raised awareness of the animal crisis in Puerto Rico.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "American tourists find pets on 'Dead Dog Beach'". Arizona Daily Star. September 29, 2007. pp. A012. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ Finn, Robin (March 24, 2012). "Operation Paws". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ "More Than 69 000 Pets Massacred In Puerto Rico". www.cbsnews.com. October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ Barreto, Maritza (2017). Assessment of beach morphology at Puerto Rico Island. Puerto Rico and Caribbean Beach Network. retrieved from: http://drna.pr.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Geomorphic-Assessment-of-Puerto-Rico-1977-to-2016.pdf
- ^ "Geography of Puerto Rico, Landforms - World Atlas". www.worldatlas.com. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Municipalities: Yabucoa". www.enciclopediapr.org. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ "Central America :: Puerto Rico — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Orlando Fernandez boxer". www.fightsrec.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ Ann Roche and Evelio Contreras (August 25, 2015). "Sato Project saves pups from 'Dead Dog Beach'". CNN. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ "Hope For The Lost And Abandoned Dogs Of Puerto Rico from The Animal House | WAMU 88.5". www.stitcher.com.
- ^ "The Spayathon for Puerto Rico". The Sato Project. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ Long, Heather (March 20, 2016). "Puerto Rico has become 'dead dog island'". CNNMoney. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ "Pets and their people line up by the thousands at Spayathon for Puerto Rico | Humane World for Animals".
- ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/PR/PST045224
- ^ "Animal Rescue Foundations".
- ^ "Barks for Hope".
- ^ "BREVARD HUMANE SOCIETY LENDS A PAW TO AID PUERTO RICO ANIMAL RELIEF EFFORTS". Brevard Humane Society. September 3, 2018.
- ^ Hometown News, Jamie Desena-McFarland For Hometown News (September 20, 2018). "Pets from Puerto Rico available for adoption locally". Hometown News Brevard.
- ^ "Pets rescued from Puerto Rico coming to Brevard". www.mynews13.com.
- ^ Buiso, Gary (August 24, 2014). "Hundreds of dogs saved from massacre on Puerto Rico". New York Post. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
Further reading
[edit]- Robin, Finn. "The Saviour of Dead Dog Beach Boxing Champ Rescues Puerto Rico's unwanted dogs." Hamilton Spectator, The (ON) n.d.: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. October 18, 2016.
- Heather Long. "Puerto Rico, amid Economic Crisis, Has Become 'Dead Dog Island'" Las Vegas Review Journal (2016): n. pag. Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 21, 2016. Web. October 27, 2016.