We Puerto Ricans, those of us who live here and will have to live with that project, OPPOSE IT STRONGLY. Don't bring that kind of obsolete trash to our land.

Posted by: Delma S. Fleming, Ph.D. | June 16, 2009 06:27 PM

Costa Rica should be a role model for other latino nations in reference to respecting animals, nature and ecosystems. Since Puerto Rico is affiliated with the United States America should denounce this cruel and monstrous monkey business.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | June 16, 2009 09:04 PM

Puerto Rico can't even take care of their DOGS! Lovely pets are abandoned to starve and be killed on the streets. They call them satos.

http://www.saveasato.org/

Little sweet dogs that are so loving, but people don't spay or neuter there and have such cruel attitudes!

It isn't acceptable.

It is so frustrating that educated Puerto Ricans tolerate this dog abuse!

Posted by: Jax | June 17, 2009 01:51 AM

Stop this cruel behavior. Please leave the monkees alone.

Posted by: Oswald Velez | June 17, 2009 02:04 AM

I love that video! I also love how that reporter at CNN called Ingrik her "personal hero" and called Peta's book great. Go CNN and PETA! :)

Posted by: Stephanie Heckman | June 17, 2009 11:06 AM

I can't believe such a thing! Don't think all Puerto Ricans are like that...I'm from Puerto Rico and I'm TOTALLY against any type of animal cruelty. I can't believe people would allow to do such a terrible thing!

Posted by: Lyanne Luna | June 17, 2009 01:53 PM

I really like Jane Valez-Mitchell. She seems to be the only journalist/talk show host on tv who really addresses anti-animal issues. She showed that woman in Germany who fell into a polar bear enclosure in a German zoo and they had to haul her out. Jane mentioned that polar bears shouldn't even be in zoos. She was also just about the only one to rip into Sarah Palin and her anti wolf and other anti wildlife barbarism. I hope her show stays on for a very long time.

Posted by: Rex's Mom | June 17, 2009 03:45 PM

I work for a rescue group that is based out of PR and to be honest I have come to expect this kind of cruelty from them. They cannot come up with feasible solutions for the dog/cat overpopulation except to go into people homes, take pets then throw them off a 50ft bridge. We just took in a full bred boxer who had been hit with a machete. And that is just one in a hundred of the acts of cruelty that go on in PR on a daily basis. We have cruelty in the states but in PR it is more prevelent and in plain view. I do want to point out that not all Puerto Ricans are so cruel. Through all my trips down there I have meet some wonderful people who are really trying to make a difference and care about the animals. But you have no backup. The police and government both look the other way so it just turns it to a vicious cycle. But I also want to appluad Jane Valez-Mitchell. She is really trying to bring to light the problems in PR. She did a documentary on the plight of the dogs and from what I hear is going back in Aug/Sept to meet with mayors and governement officials to TRY and turn things around. If you would like to see her documentary's on the overpopulation problem go to
www.secondchanceblog.blogspot.com
I believe it was posted in March.
But please keep the monkey breeding OFF the island! PR is estimated to loose 15 million a year minimum in tourism from the dog over population problem. There is no need to force breed ANY animal or take them from their native homes. You may think this could bring income for PR but all you are showing the world is the cruel intentions PR has and I would expect that 15 million to double if you go ahead with this project.

Posted by: Alicia | June 17, 2009 05:08 PM

Way to go, Ingrid and Jane Velez-Mitchell

Posted by: lynda downie | June 18, 2009 01:10 AM

Alicia posted that the Gov and police look the other way, Maybe PR needs to refresh there ploice and Gov. I cannot understand how anyone can be so cruel. Also Jane and Ingrid keep up the good work.

Posted by: jeanie | June 18, 2009 01:21 PM

Ingrid is just a totally amazing speaker, i wish we could clone this woman and get her on every media outlet for animals - everywhere! with love from your friends at ARAN in Ireland.

Posted by: John Carmody | June 18, 2009 04:24 PM

This is a total shame on us Puertoricans, I had not heard this news before and I totally do not agree on this behavior. Something must be done especially with homeless animals wandering along the streets as if they were trash...

Posted by: Ingrid | June 18, 2009 04:41 PM

Anything that can be done to stop this horrendous torture of monkeys has my support. Why should any of God's animals live in torture? It sickens me.

Jackie

Posted by: Jackie | June 18, 2009 06:56 PM

...this is not a big deal. as for those dogs in PR, they are useless anyway.

Posted by: griv r | June 20, 2009 11:02 PM

No way thats going to happen here!!!

Posted by: Jose | June 21, 2009 12:43 AM

Stop. They're alive and can feel. Stop it.

Posted by: Louis Dooner | June 21, 2009 06:54 PM

Actually there are some animal rights organizations in PR, which we could work with, to protest this facility like: fepanimals which stands for 'federacion protectora de animales' Their address is: fepanimals@yahoogroups.com

And in www.amigosdelosanimalespr.org there's a lot of information about their work and they talk a lot about Jane Velez-Mitchell and how they worked together wih her for the feature that she did. They also announce that golden glove champ Chrissy Beckles will fight for Puerto Rican strays on Sat. May 16 in Brooklyn at Gleason's Gym. Proceeds of the fight will go to help stray animals and also to help initiate a spay/neuter voucher program in communities surrounding notorious animal dumping such as Dead Dog Beach. It also says that Beckles is also auctioning off advertising space on her boxing trunks; bidding starts at $200 and ends May 1st.

There is also P.A.W.S. inc. Puerto Rico Animal Welfare Society. Their address is: pawspetspr@yahoo.com

And PuertoRicoForumfor AnimalsRights@yahoogroups.com

Posted by: Margarita | June 21, 2009 11:06 PM

I just read about this and i am horrified. I live on the island of Mauritius and while i knew that we did export our monkeys to labs i thought it had stopped as our local airline Air Mauritius had stopped it (my dad is an airline pilot fior them). We have a lot of problems when it comes to animal welfare/rights and i would LOVE it if Ingrid Newkirk came and visited for a while and see what she can do to help our animals!!!
I will protest this monkey breeding facility!

Posted by: maurikelly23 | June 22, 2009 03:41 AM

PLEASE I IMLORE you to not go ahead with this death trap!!! These poor animals are not meant to be caged up and treated so inhumanely. They are meant to live freely among each other without human interference. Let them do so. How do you sleep at night??????

Posted by: Anastasia Karagiannidis | June 22, 2009 08:06 AM

Please stop it

Posted by: Irina Seifert | June 22, 2009 04:28 PM

To maurikelly:
Why don't you try to start your animals right group with some of your friends and that way you would feel better knowing that you are doing a little bit of your part on this injustice for animals. Maybe Ingrid cannot spread herself all over the place as much as she may want to. I have organized a group of kids from my son's high school and we do protests in our area besides other community activities. I guess Peta can give you lots of ideas and information on how to go about it.

Posted by: Margarita | June 24, 2009 07:51 AM

@ Margarita: That's wonderful advice, and @ maurikelly: You can also check out our Action Center for tons of ways to get involved: http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/index.asp.

Posted by: Shawna Flavell | June 24, 2009 03:39 PM

Thanks for the comments guys.. I have talked to a few people here and no is willing to do anything against it!! There is just me and a hindu friend who are into animal rights and veganism and she told me honestly she can't be a part of any protests or anything like that due to her family!! So for now i am all alone in any animal rights fights!

Posted by: maurikelly23 | June 26, 2009 05:01 AM

I, as an animal rights advocate, strongly opposed to any experiments on animals and object any plan of those that endorsed it or promoved it (including the alleged scientific community).

Also, Puerto Rico's officials shall not endorse or promote the establishment of any private entity that does this kind of "laboratory experiment". We all know that these experiments are based on the false allegation that is for the benefit of human kind. I think that the only benefit they are getting is increasing their investments and bank accounts.

Making money at the expense of suffering, is not a good investment. Definitely, progress is not based on harm.

Posted by: Jaime Riera-Seivane | June 27, 2009 04:26 PM

I live in Puerto Rico this is new to and embarrass and shock!!! you bet Im going personally to this people with my team.

Posted by: joannie | June 28, 2009 07:39 PM

Hi, I am part of the "Defensores de animales de Cabo Rojo", (www.defensoresdeanimalespr.
org) for helping this animals I will need to know fisically, where the construction is taking place. In what municipality, thank you.

Posted by: marilia bracero | June 30, 2009 08:44 AM

As a puertorrican living in Puerto Rico I am against this proyect. It is enough that animal compasionate residents take on the burden of collecting stray dogs and cats. We DO NOT need another source of neglect and abuse in our Island.

Posted by: María Zamparelli | July 8, 2009 06:58 PM

As a Puertorrican that lived 50 years in New York and KNOW FIRST HAND the damage those kind of Researches do not only to the poor animals that never hurt anyone, BUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE CHEMICAL GARBAGE THEY LEAK ON TO THE EARTH AND RIVERS IN THE ISLAND... I AM TOTALLY OPPOSED TO ANY AND ALL SO-CALLED RESEARCH PROGRAMS. RESEARCH ON YOURSELVES IF YOU THINK IT IS SO SAFE!!

Posted by: Maggie Gonzalez Rego | July 10, 2009 08:54 PM

As a Puerto Rican and animal lover I totally recent this plan. I hurt each time I go to the island and see straight dogs and cats not neuter, Horses not been taking care BY owner, Mayaguez Zoo condition of animal is appalling and something should also be done there!!!

Posted by: joan torres | July 11, 2009 01:04 PM

The question here should be Who was the person in Puerto Rico who approved or granted the permit for this facility to be build in the first place. If the people of Puerto Rico were unaware of this happening right underneath their noses some one is making a lot of money.

Come on Puerto Rico stand up for what is right and forbid this from happening.

QUE VIVA Puerto Rico

Posted by: Lillian Santiago | July 14, 2009 08:28 PM

I am surprised that Peta hasn't started a petition campaing against the building of this facility.

Posted by: Margarita | July 20, 2009 11:07 PM

I was born and raise in puerto Rico. I been living in New York city for the last ten years. Iam truly concern in the way all animals are treated in Puerto Rico. I feel embarrased to take friends to the island and see the abusive behavior people have against animals. What is it? Poor education or poor moral values? What could I do ? How couls I actively get involve to help?

Posted by: ana anglada | July 29, 2009 12:31 PM