Savannah walkers rushed by stray dogs

For the past six months, a gang of seven stray dogs has been scaring people who exercise at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, with their aggressive behaviour.

Even though the dogs have not physically attacked anyone as yet, some Savannah users feel the animals' behaviour is a nuisance.

Brian Scoon, 64, who walks around the Savannah as part of his daily exercise routine, is now afraid to continue his early-morning walks, as the dogs have "rushed" him on several occasions.

"I have been walking the Savannah for five years now and I am actually afraid when I have to go walking now," Scoon lamented. "No dog should stop me from where I want to walk in a public space.

"I was thinking about getting pepper spray, but I shouldn't have to do that."

The dogs mainly threaten people who are on the walkway in front and at the sides of the Grand Stand between 6 and 7 am.

Scoon explained he believes because security officers at the Grand Stand have been feeding the dogs, they bark at other people who pass nearby, as they consider it their "territory."

"They go inside and get food, so they feel that whole area belongs to them, and they bark at you. The dogs feel as if we are encroaching on their domain, so they're very protective of that area."

He said other people exercising around the Savannah have also been "attacked" by the dogs.

In cellphone video footage Scoon sent to Newsday, he spoke to two other men who seemed to be around the same age and also walk the same route. The men shared their experiences with the dogs. They did not identify themselves by name but were clearly visible.

The first said, "They have to do something about those dogs. What I was told, there was a guy that used to stay by the (Peschier) cemetery (in the Savannah) and he had a whole battery of dogs, I don't know if he died and these dogs are remnants of what he had or whatever, and they does be running all over the place now. I think they came from there originally and they rush me already."

The second man said, "I was walking right behind the Grand Stand there and they rushed me. I was so scared. Fortunately a woman was passing riding a bicycle and because they got scared they ran away but I was so scared man, I didn't know what to do, I pick up two stones, but even though you pelt them, they won't stop."

To get the problem dealt with Scoon wrote a letter to Port of Spain City Corporation Department CEO on September 25, 2020, and later called to follow up on whether his letter had been received. He said the employee he spoke with said the corporation's public health unit was indeed aware and would treat with the matter.

After some time had passed and nothing had been done, Scoon made several follow-up calls and usually got the same answer. On one occasion he was told the matter wasn't within the city corporations jurisdiction and he should go to the city pound division at Sea Lots to find out why the matter had not been dealt with.

Scoon said he looked for a contact number for the Sea Lots division but didn't find one and didn't feel safe venturing there to find the division, as he did not know its exact address.

Newsday contacted Mitra Sooklal, chief public health inspector at the corporation, for comment.

He said, "Yes, we are aware of the report, and we have our unit looking into it, They have been visiting the area.

"But you know, not every time they visit they may see the dogs, so that might be one of the challenges."

Colin Lucas, chairman of the National Carnival Commission, which has responsibility for the Grand Stand, said, "It was brought to my attention and I spoke with the security personnel, who in turn called the Port of Spain dog collection unit, who came a couple of times – but when they came the dogs were not around."

When Newsday visited the Savannah last Friday morning, the dogs were there, and did exhibit some territorial behaviour – but quickly left when they saw the camera.