Sunday, July 15 2012

THE EDITOR: An open letter to the officials, especially, Minister Ramona Ramdial and Mayor Orlando Nagessar. Please, it would be enlightening and welcoming to hear those in government speak about humane solutions to stray animals.

The dog catchers catch dogs and take them to the pound to be euthanised. These very tourists that you want to visit sites in Central are always sending welfare organisations like ours distress e-mails about the unacceptable number of strays and cases of abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. When they know what happens to them at the pound, do you think we will look better? Out of sight is not out of mind.

We advise that it is beyond urgent now to find real solutions to the stray dog population. Have a pet ownership bill that mandates pet ownership responsibilities and makes people culpable for spaying, neutering, abandoning, treating inhumanely their pets. Irresponsible pet owners who continue to get away with atrocities to animals will never stop unless a law is passed and enforced. To abate the unwanted dog and cat population that result in dumped litters that end up being strays, the Government needs to immediately sponsor a spay and neuter programme for dogs from impoverished homes and the awareness drive that goes within this as many people do not know about this option or cannot afford it. Now these are acceptable and humane solutions, especially that should come out of the mouths of officials.

Please consider these as the Gandhian saying reminds us that “the greateness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Destroyed Leatherback nesting site and dumped pitbulls because of an impending law are also issues that are making the Government look as if they do not care about animals. We are willing to offer any assistance.



Kathryn Cleghorn

President, Animals Alive