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Arturo Islas responds to Pedro Sola's comments on animal mistreatment
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Arturo Islas responds to Pedro Sola's comments on animal mistreatment

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • TV personality Pedro Sola sparked outrage for comments suggesting violence against dogs in public spaces.
  • Environmentalist Arturo Islas condemned Sola's remarks, highlighting dogs' life-saving roles in rescue operations.
  • Sola later apologized, attributing his comments to a lack of empathy and promising to educate himself on the issue.

Mexican television personality Pedro Sola ignited public anger after expressing his strong disapproval of dogs in public areas like shopping centers and restaurants during a recent broadcast of "Ventaneando." His controversial statements, which included remarks about poisoning dogs and shooting their owners, drew sharp criticism from animal activists, shelters, and advocates who accused him of inciting animal cruelty.

I don't tolerate dogs in the store, dogs in the supermarket, dogs shitting in the restaurant, what is that, have they gone crazy or what?... with the desire to throw poisoned meat (...) and to shoot the owners.

— Pedro SolaPedro Sola's initial controversial remarks about dogs in public spaces.

Among those who responded was environmentalist and content creator Arturo Islas Allende. Islas directly addressed Sola's televised comments, calling them "lamentable" and unworthy of a seasoned communicator. He emphasized the vital role dogs play, citing their use in search and rescue missions during the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and recent earthquake efforts in Venezuela, where dogs have been instrumental in saving lives.

The statements you made on national television are lamentable and are not worthy of a communicator with as many years as you.

— Arturo IslasArturo Islas's reaction to Pedro Sola's comments.

"Today in Venezuela, lives are being saved thanks to dogs rescuing people," Islas stated. He condemned Sola's "cruel and heartless" remarks, particularly given Mexico's history of violence. Islas also pointed to Grupo Salinas's commitment to providing refuge for stray dogs within their facilities, contrasting it with Sola's inflammatory rhetoric.

Today in Venezuela, lives are being saved thanks to dogs rescuing people. In the '85 earthquake, dogs were used to rescue many people, and today there are people alive thanks to those dogs.

— Arturo IslasArturo Islas highlighting the life-saving role of dogs.

Following the backlash, Pedro Sola issued a public apology on "Ventaneando." He admitted his statements were a "lack of empathy" and that he spoke without thinking. Sola promised to educate himself further on the topic to avoid similar mistakes, stating, "I am incapable of killing a fly."

Promoting sarcastically, mockingly, that puppies be poisoned and talking about shootings on national television (...) is cruel and heartless in a country that has been extremely violent.

— Arturo IslasArturo Islas condemning Sola's remarks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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