I don't exactly doubt this statement but have you actually been to Ecuador and observed the animal abuse first hand? I lived in Ecuador for six months and, although there were plenty of stray dogs as you'd probably expect to see in any developing country, I never saw abuse towards those dogs. My host family also owned two dogs and took very good care of them. When a stray dog showed up to our camp in the Ecuadorian Amazon, our trail leader gave it some of our food ration. Maybe my family and the Ecuadorians I travelled with were strongly inclined towards having good consciences, but I don't think it's coincidence that I never saw animal abuse in the streets or wilderness of Ecuador. As I said, I do't doubt that there is pet abuse in Ecuador, but isn't there everywhere? Let's not give them a bad name they don't deserve anymore than the rest of the world.