El Salvador Closes Bitcoin-Funded Pet Hospital After Welfare Scandal

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, announced this Saturday the closure of the country’s only pet hospital, which was created with funds from a Bitcoin trust. The Chivo Pets veterinary hospital, opened in February 2022 by the government, will be closed following a case of negligence in which dogs suffered mistreatment and abandonment at a shelter managed by the San Salvador municipality.
“In light of the unfortunate situation experienced by numerous animals at the Ilopango shelter (on the eastern outskirts of San Salvador),” the president announced the decision to “close” on his Facebook page. This veterinary hospital was built with part of approximately 4 million dollars that was registered as “surplus” from a trust for the adoption of Bitcoin.
In addition to Chivo Pets, the president also announced that the state Animal Welfare Institute and the police unit responsible for protecting animals (Polipet) will also be closed due to the same case of negligence. The leader’s decision comes after he claimed to have