Animal rights advocates want law changed to grant them licensed inspectors

By Sheria Brathwaite

In a bid to combat rising cases of animal abuse in Barbados, two prominent animal rights activists have advocated for licensed inspectors to be attached to registered animal welfare organisations.

They contend that this measure will expedite responses to reported cases of abuse, potentially saving the lives of many animals.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the current system, Lavern Beresford of Be Their Voice Animal Charity and attorney-at-law Lalu Hanuman of Ark Animal Welfare Society of Barbados told Barbados TODAY that delays in authorities’ responses had led to unfortunate outcomes, including instances where animals had to be euthanised.

Hanuman highlighted the need for legislative changes.

“I would hope that down the road, the legislation that speaks to animal cruelty would be changed to allow not only the BSPCA [Barbados Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] but all animal charities to have the right to appoint an inspector to investigate and initiate police action. It’s only the BSPCA that has an inspector and everybody is reliant on that person to do something about animal abuse in Barbados,” he said, noting that the BSPCA could be stretched at times processing several cases.

The advocates emphasised the potential benefits of having inspectors attached to non-governmental organisations, asserting that it would diversify the agencies available for reporting animal abuse, leading to faster case processing.

Beresford also expressed concerns about the BSPCA and/or Animal Control Unit’s slow response to animal abuse cases.

She referred to an incident earlier this year where an emaciated pitbull had to be put down due to delayed rescue efforts.

“I know of a situation in Wotton Terrace, Christ Church that was reported on September 3 and it took more than 40 days for the malnourished pit bull, which was full of ticks and fleas, to be rescued. What is sad about the situation is that if the authorities had acted sooner the dog may not have had to be euthanised. The poor animal was just skin and bones. Be Their Voice was contacted by the person who filed the report and we were disheartened by the time it took for the dog to be eventually rescued and to find out it died,” Beresford said.

“This is why we are calling for animal rights groups to have their own inspector, so there could be swift action.”

Despite ongoing governmental efforts to address animal abuse through the proposed Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Bill, no public updates have been provided since the House of Assembly began debating the legislation in January. Wayne Norville, the former long-time BSPCA inspector, supported the activists’ appeal, acknowledging the proposal’s complexity but emphasising the necessity for government-appointed inspectors with appropriate powers.

“It is a good idea but that person (inspector) would have to have the power of entry and other powers that the Animal Control Unit has. So it would have to be a person [who] is government-appointed. So while it is a good idea, it is not as straightforward as you may think,” explained Norville.

He further advocated for a national sensitisation campaign on animal rights to shift public mindset and promote a deeper understanding of the importance of animal welfare.

Declaring that animal rights in Barbados are not taken seriously, Norville suggested that any move to strengthen legislation on animal rights must start with a mindset change.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb