The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is held on the second Sunday in June in honor of the nearly 4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and all people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing in the mainland U.S.
There are more than 250,000 stray dogs on the island. Many die from starvation, poisoned, deliberately run over by cars, hacked by machetes, used for gun or crossbow practice or drowned. The many homeless cats on the island face the same challenges.
The euthannasia rate is between 97-99%. The island has 5 animal shelters.
A float in the parade bringing attention to the stray dog and cat population of the island would increase awareness to visitors to the island. Would increase donations to the organizations that are working to help the animals without any help from the government. Would lead to an increase in volunteers on the island. Would increase stateside adoptions of the strays. A float could also bring attention to the lack of support given by the government of the island and from the tourism offices.
Hopefully a float bringing awareness to the stray cats and dogs of Puerto Rico will help to increase or develop compassion and empathy for the stray animals.
