Animal Abuse in Belize City Ignites Public Outcry and Reform Push

It’s a story that’s hard to watch and even harder to believe. A shocking case of animal cruelty in Belize City has sparked outrage and renewed calls for tougher laws. It started with a horse left to die on a city street… and ended with an unbelievable act during a football match, caught live on national TV. Tonight, we look at why advocates say enough is enough, and how football authorities are scrambling to respond. News Five’s Paul Lopez has that story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Imagine this, a quiet Sunday in the Jane Usher community turns heartbreaking as residents watch an injured horse collapse on the street, fighting for its life. Hours pass, night falls, and still no help comes. By the end of the day, the animal is dead, left unattended and later left to rot, while children play just steps away.

 

Voice of: Resident of Jane Usher

“From yesterday this horse was here and people said they called for help and no one answered and the reason why I am talking is because I don’t want this horse to burst in front here because animal done the eat ah and ih wah be a bad smell for us here, especially me that lives across the street and other people dah back yah suh. And the pikney deh, you know pickney mischievous and all of them the talk about how the horse eat out from here and there and unu could witness and see it is not a good sight for the kids to watch in the neighborhood.”

 

 

 

Animal advocates say this is part of a bigger problem. Michelle Rudon of the Society for the Promotion of Animal Rescue and Kindness says it’s time to get horses out of Belize City, arguing they face daily abuse and starvation. Volunteer Georgia Aranda-Lewis agrees.

 

Georgia Aranda-Lewis, Volunteer, SPARK

“At this point I don’t know what else we can do for it to stop. I have complained to the City Council and the police department and nothing is being done. And it has to stop at some point. It is too much. One of the post I saw yesterday is that they should ban horses from the city and they should. I am in total agreement with that.”

 

 

 

Lewis says weak laws allow abuse to continue.

 

Georgia Aranda-Lewis

“The laws are not stiff. Nothing is being done whenever you call the police. We don’t know if they would go out and check. But I think if they penalize these youths and make arrest and take them to court, I think it would cut down drastically.”

 

 

 

 

SPARK made similar calls back in April after a horse was attacked by machete-wielding youths. Those youths were dragged before a magistrate and that horse, Wannie, has since made a full recovery and is back home with its owner after spending time in Spanish Lookout under rehabilitation. But the problem isn’t limited to horses. Over the weekend, during a Premier League match, a player kicked a dog that wandered into the playing field.

 

 

 

Georgia Aranda-Lewis

“It was painful because he walked towards the dog and kicked the dog. He could have turned the opposite direction and keep going. But, he walked towards the dog and kicked the dog.”

 

The player who kicked the dog, Latrell Middleton, has since issued a public apology. According to him, he regrets the incident and says it’s not representative of his character. And football authorities, including the Football Federation of Belize, condemned the act. The FFB says the behavior is unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of football and that the matter will be referred to the FFB Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.

 

But, Lewis says, apologies are not enough.

 

Georgia Aranda-Lewis

“I don’t think it is not good enough. I think it is something that he googled or wrote for him. If he could have done a live apology or where we could have seen him be really sincere and ensure he would not do it again. But, just that type is not sufficient and a flag is not either.”

 

 

 

Advocates say until laws are enforced and penalties strengthened, animal cruelty will continue unchecked, whether on city streets or in stadiums. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.