Halloween and All Souls’ Day increase danger for black cats and dogs

“In this month of October, especially around this time (Halloween), let us be careful with our cats and stray kittens that are black or full white. There are bad people who use them for rituals ”, is the alert that the Foundation I love animals of Ecuador gave in the past days.

It is that what we evidence in certain horror films that include, especially, animal sacrifices such as black cats is a cruel reality. And this tends to increase in celebrations such as Halloween, better known as Halloween, and Day of the Dead.

For Estefanía Pareja, from Animal Rescue, although Halloween is not a typical Ecuadorian holiday and has not been “institutionalized” in the country, it has been partially adopted due to the high influence that exists from the United States.

“That is why in all the countries of the world there are campaigns by animalists to take care of the welfare of black cats. There are foundations or independent people who collect them from the streets temporarily until these dates pass”, dice.

He affirms that there are “beliefs, satanic cults and witchcraft themes” that use black cats to make concoctions, trap energy or perform “spells”: “I personally have not known that this type of thing has happened with a cat (in Ecuador ) ”, Although he adds that any warning or recommendation of care for these animals is totally valid.

At an international level, it is known that black and white cats are killed to cut off parts of their body such as legs, tails, ears, skin and use their blood in these rituals.

“In Ecuador what has happened is that many black cats are lost at this time of Halloween and the Day of the Dead. This is common”Adds Pareja.

Although he has not been an eyewitness to these rituals, Pareja indicates that the profiles of Rescate Animal’s social networks have received reports of “strange things” that occur in neighborhoods at this time.

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“They have told us that bad smells come out of the houses, that a lot of blood comes out of the houses. There are videos where you can see animals nailed to the trees and although a black cat was not seen, many people said that it had happened. They have told us that they see animal corpses, bones, that they see people doing rituals with animals in cemeteries, ”he says.

Although he regrets that In most cases, there is “almost never” enough evidence to make a formal complaint and, in addition, people tend to fear this type of activity, specifically witchcraft, so they are not encouraged to continue with a process legal.

Other myths that are generated is that black cats are bad luck. This has been denied by both science and animal organizations. In fact, adoption campaigns strongly encourage people to choose cats of this color to give them a good life that they would not have on the street or with irresponsible people.

However, I love animals advises that, just for these days, If people are thinking of adopting black or white cats, stop the process and take them back after the holidays are over.

According to the medium La Vanguardia, there are satanic groups that shed the virgin blood of cats as an offering to invoke “evil” for someone or fight against witchcraft. The felines would not be older than six months, as they seek their “purity”.

In countries like Mexico, some gangs usually kill animals as an initiation rite to a new member, observing a considerable increase in the death of animals, which are thrown in parks and public gardens along with utensils and herbs, according to the newspaper Milenio.

Even if it is by belief, animal cruelty is a crime in many countries of the world, including Ecuador. According to article 249 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code, a person who injures a pet or companion animal will be punished with imprisonment for two to six months. If the conduct is carried out as a result of cruelty or animal torture, it will be punished with jail from six months to one year.

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In addition, the person who kills a companion animal will be punished with prison from six months to one year. If death occurs as a result of acts of cruelty or animal torture, you will be sentenced to one to three years in prison.

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Animal organizations also raise the alert for black dogs. They claim that these animals are also used internationally for rituals on these dates. That is why they ask their peers to stop the adoption processes for these animals until the holidays are over.

Andrés (protected name) says that as a child he was given the blood of a black dog to drink to cure his asthma. He lives in Guayaquil and indicates that his mother, desperate to cure his ailment, took him to a witch doctor when he was 7 years old.

The man, who caused Andrés fear, gave precise indications of what had to be done: “He told my mom to give me the blood of a black dog to drink at midnight. I don’t remember if they gave it to me to drink on some special date, but they did. I never saw how the animal was killed. My mom left and after a couple of hours she came with a cover where the liquid was”, dice.

Despite this procedure, Andrés’ asthma was never cured and he currently uses inhalers to treat his condition: “I understand why my mom did it, but I wouldn’t do that to my children.” (I)