Angry Locals Threaten Man for Feeding Strays, But He Refuses to Let Them Starve

By: Clarisse Jelle
Clarisse is an effective freelance SEO writer for a dog magazine, combining her deep passion for animals with her professional skills. Her hands-on experience with rescued cats and stray dogs enriches her writing, enabling her to create engaging and informative content that resonates with pet parents and animal lovers.Read more
| August 2, 2024

In 2006, Glen Venezio made a life-changing move from the U.S. East Coast to Puerto Rico. Shortly after arriving, he began dedicating his time and resources to caring for the local stray animals, particularly cats, which, despite his noble intentions, sparked controversy among some of the residents.

For nearly 15 years, Venezio has spent his nights roaming the streets alone, investing a significant portion of his own money—sometimes exceeding $100 a day—to feed and care for the stray cats and occasional dogs he encounters. This self-imposed mission has been met with mixed reactions, particularly from his neighbors in a middle-to-upper class area who are not keen on seeing an increase in the stray cat population.

In a 2017 interview with Medium, Venezio explained that many people believe his efforts are unnecessary due to the presence of animal rescues on the island. Additionally, his neighbors find it strange to see a man, especially an American, out at night tending to the animals. He recounted, “But to see, first of all a man. And then second of all, to see an American man, someone from the states. It’s just so, so strange to them.” This has led to confusion and anger among some residents, who question his motives.

Despite the challenges, Venezio has become a vocal advocate for the stray cats, fighting against their abuse and neglect. He has established a rapport with local police officers, many of whom call him “Hombre de Los Gatos,” or “Catman.” Some of these officers are part of an animal abuse task force that Venezio collaborates with regularly. He is well aware of his rights and the potential troublemakers in his neighborhood. For instance, he knows that sidewalks are public spaces, allowing him to feed the cats there despite complaints about food being thrown on the ground. He argues that feeding stations can be poisoned and may obstruct pedestrians.

The general sentiment among some people is that animal control should handle the stray cats, either by rounding them up for euthanasia or placing them in shelters. However, the concept of companion animals has not been widely embraced in Puerto Rico, although there is a growing shift in attitudes among the younger generation. This shift gives Venezio hope that the cats might eventually find homes.

Venezio remains committed to his cause, refusing to abandon the cats to a life of neglect. He has witnessed the cruelty they endure and cannot ignore their pleading eyes. Knowing that he is often their only source of food and medical care, he continues his mission despite the financial strain.

He Subjected Cats to Abuse and Inflicted Severe Physical Harm
He Subjected Cats to Abuse and Inflicted Severe Physical Harm

Sadly, this seems to have been a disturbing pattern that must be addressed. To protect future animals and provide him with the support he needs, he must be banned from ever owning animals again and undergo mandatory counseling.

By 2017, the costs had become increasingly burdensome. Venezio shared, “Money helps all the time because it’s a huge burden that I cannot afford. The food alone is over $70 a night because I’m dealing with about 250 cats. I always need money to spay and neuter. The cheapest spay and neuter operation you could get in Puerto Rico might be $40 to $50. That’s rock bottom. That’s one cat. So imagine, I’m dealing with many cats. So there’s always more and more to spay and neuter.”

If you feel compelled to support Venezio’s efforts, you can follow him on Facebook or make a donation. He gratefully accepts PetSmart e-gift cards and contributions via PayPal. Donations can be sent to Paypal at https://paypal.me/glencats, or via ATH Movil in Puerto Rico at 787 231 4981. PetSmart digital gift cards can be sent to eachlifeischarmed@gmail.com.

Please ‘SHARE’ to pass on this story to a friend or family member

Click ‘SHARE’ below to pass it on to a friend or family member!

Loading Checkout...

United StatesClose
Flag of United States
Powered by
duty and tax information for United States

Looks like your ad blocker is on.

×

We rely on ads to keep creating quality content for you to enjoy for free.

Please support our site by disabling your ad blocker.

Continue without supporting us

Choose your Ad Blocker

  • Adblock Plus
  • Adblock
  • Adguard
  • Ad Remover
  • Brave
  • Ghostery
  • uBlock Origin
  • uBlock
  • UltraBlock
  • Other
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock Plus icon
  2. Click the large blue toggle for this website
  3. Click refresh
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock icon
  2. Under "Pause on this site" click "Always"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Adguard icon
  2. Click on the large green toggle for this website
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ad Remover icon
  2. Click "Disable on This Website"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the orange lion icon
  2. Click the toggle on the top right, shifting from "Up" to "Down"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ghostery icon
  2. Click the "Anti-Tracking" shield so it says "Off"
  3. Click the "Ad-Blocking" stop sign so it says "Off"
  4. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock Origin icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the UltraBlock icon
  2. Check the "Disable UltraBlock" checkbox
  1. Please disable your Ad Blocker
  2. Disable any DNS blocking tools such as AdGuardDNS or NextDNS

If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).