Not only does the Ministry of Health’s Animal Control Centre investigate complaints laid concerning the mistreatment of dogs in Barbados, but it stages interventions as well, in cases where dogs are posing a threat or a nuisance to the public.
This was the reminder issued recently by Acting Animal Control Officer, Peter Belgrave to the Barbadian public, who may have problems with troublesome dogs or who cannot take seeing them badly treated.
“What will happen, is as long as we have been called to the scene in a situation where we think the dog is being kept in inhumane conditions – the dog could have been observed without food and water for a number of days, it could have been chained, it could have been so emaciated that it could not stand, it may have various cuts or sores or other scars on its body which need medical intervention – those are some of the reasons why we would intervene,” Belgrave noted.
“We also investigate complaints. So if you realise every morning that you have to deal with a dog that is pulling down your garbage can and creating a nuisance, we would also intervene in those situations,” he further explained.
“We also intervene basically, if a dog is in a public path and we don’t see a collar and there is no indication that this dog has an owner. We would intervene and remove that dog, for the safety of the general public,” the Acting Animal Control Officer added.
Whilst the mandate of the Animal Control Centre is the licensing and control of dogs in the country, Belgrave explained that Animal Control also plays additional roles, such as offering technical support where it is needed and assisting members of the Royal Barbados Police Force as well.
The Animal Control Centre also carries out a number of educational programmes in schools and for the benefit of the general public, so as to better inform persons about how to be responsible canine owners and also in addressing any concerns they may have, in relation to problems with dogs. (RSM)