President Maduro adopts street cat as Venezuela's revolution expanded to street animals

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela's socialist revolution is going to the dogs — literally.

President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday ordered aides to study extending price caps to dog and cat food as part of the government-funded Mission Nevado campaign to rescue an uncontrolled population of street animals in Venezuelan cities.

At an event in Caracas with animal rights activists, the president adopted a gray and white calico cat. He said taking care of neglected animals represents the noblest sentiments of the revolution started by his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez.

The Mission Nevado honors the canine sidekick of 19th century South American liberator Simon Bolivar. The name was also given by National Guardsmen to a dog that spontaneously accompanied the funeral procession of Chavez last year for the full 12 kilometers (7½ miles).