This is happening right now, October 2008. I want you to know the story of these 7 dogs that may soon be put to death if the animal supporter community does not come together to help save them ASAP. Details on how you can help are found at the bottom.

Beautiful dogs. But these are 4 of 7 that might be facing death by lethal injection this week. We need your help.

Fajardo resident, Monica Perez Nevarez, was absolutely haunted by the state of emergency for animals in Puerto Rico. She speaks of the images of dead animals flattened and rotting on roadsides, starving & desperate animals seeking shelter & food all over Puerto Rico, neglected so-called “pets” chained endlessly to fences under the hot sun, and so-called animal shelters with conditions so shocking and heartbreaking that some animals must be silently begging to be set free.

This is the story of a woman who is right now trying to save the lives of 7 dogs. While walking her own pet one day, she met a new friend that would bring a major new focus into her life. A little abandoned dog spotted her, and with a nervous but optimistic approach, came closer hoping if not to receive a little affection, maybe some water or a tiny morsel of food.

I guess he might have figured she was safe since she had her own pet with her. He picked the right person that day. Monica became his personal angel and took him home as her 2nd pet. God only knows how many times his appeals for help were rejected before he found her.

She bathed him, combed his fur, fed him well, vaccinated him, had him sterilized, and (most importantly) showered him with love.

The problem was that just about every day Monica ran into one or more dogs in the same condition. The odds are in favor of that happening. In Puerto Rico, thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats live on the streets, with almost nothing being done unless you consider the pure evil of the Barceloneta Massacre a solution. Organizations like SAFAPR are hoping to change that, but progress is slow due to lack of funding.

Over a two year period Monica saved 24 abandoned dogs. 5 found homes. 12 were sent to shelters, and 7 remain with her at her apartment in Fajardo.

She tried contacting the good people at Save-A-Sato. They successfully sent some to the US, only for her to find out the shelters did not find homes for one. Tragically it was instead “euthanized”.  She tried the no-kill shelters and was not surprised at all to find that they were already at their absolute capacity, accepting no more animals. And her efforts to find adopting families were very difficult and limited in success with only 5 of 24 getting adopted.

Note: Despite the once instance of euthanization, the program to send Puerto Rico’s dogs to the US has been one of the most successful adoption methods, and one that SAFAPR has also used to great success. When SAFAPR sends the dogs, the program ensures that an agreed adoptive family is already ready to take them home.

And now we fast forward to RIGHT NOW. These 7 loving dogs are being forced out of the apartment complex where they live with their caretaker by the Board of Owners, largely under the pressure of only a few reportedly intolerant “part time” residents, who care nothing about the Fate of these animals, and apparently have no sympathy or understanding of what this woman is trying to do. In fact, only about 30 of the 180 apartments in the complex actually has full time residents. The rest use them as vacation homes. Several of the families that do live there full time have their own dogs and cats.

Monica was taken to court a year ago, and has since then been subjected to what she considers harassing treatment for over a year, and now is being threatened with having the animals forcefully removed.

Monica is currently facing a deadline already in progress and needs our help or the dogs are very likely going to end up getting a needle injected into their system that stops their hearts and terminates their physical existence in this world.

This woman is not someone who wants to have 7+ dogs in her apartment. She had a single pet and was happy caring for him and providing him with love.

However, she just simply could not ignore the unbelievable neglect of animals that occurs in Puerto Rico. She figured sacrificing her comfort and getting herself in hot water in her community was a better alternative to turning a blind eye, and joining the others who would rather block out of their mind the harsh realities of what happens to these animals than risk feeling guilty about doing nothing about it.

Here is Monica’s plea to all of us:

So I am asking anyone and everyone out there today, if you have, or know someone who has, a house with a fenced yard and a heart big enough to take in a loving friend in need, please call me or email me. My babies need a home. All else has failed, and I cannot bring myself to send them to the Humacao Shelter to die alone.

She reminds us of a quote by the Internationally respected Gandhi:

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

Yes – a nation can be judged that way. And Puerto Rico, we are failing right now, but it does not have to be like this forever.

What Can You Do To Save These 7 Animals from Death?

• Can your family adopt or foster an animal? Will you be able to take care of one or more? Do you have space in your home or a suitable shaded area in your yard available?
• Do you have friends you know who would like to adopt a pet? Let them know quickly. Forward them this article & a photo of a special animal who could be their new best friend.
• Help on the Internet in one or more ways.
  • Publish a link to this article, or post a note about it, on your Facebook, mySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, or any and all social networking accounts you use, or your own website/blog.
  • Set your Facebook, MSN/Yahoo/AOL Messenger status to “7 Animals Need Help” and tell people when they ask what this is all about.
  • Forward this story to everyone on your email list. You must agree that this is more important than puzzles, top 10 lists, jokes, and funny pictures, don’t you?
  • Click the “Digg” button on this article to help get “International” exposure. Take a few seconds to create an account if you do not have one.
• Call the secretary of the “Board of Owners” (Madelyn, 787-860-6071) pledging your support for Monica and the animals, and asking for another extension of her deadline to prevent the animals from being removed now.
  • Ask for the fax or email #.
  • Send a fax with the signatures of you and your friends requesting the extension.
  • Remind them that the media is about to take an interest in this story.
• Call in to talk radio programs, call/write/email/fax local newspapers and television networks to discuss the issue and to help search for adoptive families.

Even if you cannot adopt one of them, you CAN HELP. Helping to alert others of this emergency might be the action that helps find an adoptive family! It could be “your action” that leads to a happy outcome here.

Monica’s full story, as well as her contact information, and photos and descriptions of all loving animals needing adoption, can be found at her blog.

Something to Think About:

If you’ve been feeling for years and months that you would like to help the animals or just to help improve your community or country in some way… this may be your opportunity to make the jump from idealism to action. It is sometimes difficult to take the first step, but there will be little else you will encounter in your life that will feel so rewarding.

Please do whatever you can, big or small, to help save these animals, to stop another animal travesty in Puerto Rico, and to save Monica’s heart from being broken.