Owners abandoning pets, says animal shelter

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced several pet owners to part with their animals because they are no longer able to properly nurture and care for them, an animal shelter operator has said.

Karen Whittaker, founder of Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary (formerly the Hope), Newcastle, St John, told a press conference that the sanctuary has rescued 30 dogs since the pandemic started, and noted that some of them were subjected to severe abuse and had been abandoned.

She told reporters: “We have definitely noticed there were a lot more dogs dumped as well, and a lot more dogs handed in because people just couldn’t manage financially and of course that [the current economic climate] makes it difficult for fundraising as  well.

“We have got four little dogs that were delivered three months ago and they were in a terrible state, they were just skins and bones. They were all huddled together and they just looked like one.

“A gentleman delivered them and he pretty much just passed them over the fence to us. You can tell by the state they were in they were never touched by humans, they were probably in a box their own life.”

The sanctuary has 75 dogs and 60 cats and intends to save and help as many cats and dogs as possible.

The six-month-old Ocean Acres is an adoption and rehabilitation centre for dogs and cats. People are encouraged to contact the sanctuary if they can provide a caring and loving home for any of the animals. The management of the sanctuary is also opened to people volunteering to assist with taking care of the animals.

The opportunity to foster a dog is also available for those interested.

Whittaker said: “What we do here is to rehabilitate the dogs to make them adoptable for people. All of the dogs that come here haven’t had really good backgrounds so a big part of what we do is to try to educate people and to help them understand animal cruelty and try to help them with medicines and general care and understanding about what is needed.

“We have had a lot of successful adoptions and we really need to get nice happy homes for our dogs. We check up to see how they are doing and continue to check throughout their lives. So far, 58 dogs have gone to new happy families.”

Speaking  about the sanctuary’s  plans, including turning it into a tour facility for school children and the general public, Whittaker said it is important that people donate to the worthy cause of keeping the facility running.

She said while she does not reap any financial benefit for working at the sanctuary, there are other staff members who are paid for their service.

Whittaker told reporters: “It is difficult. It is a challenge.  Honestly, everything is paid for by small donations. We don’t have one major funder, we don’t have a patron as such just yet, we would like one; hopefully somebody would come along.

“Really it is people who come and see what we are doing, they like it and they contribute; they would maybe pay our vet bill. We have had a couple of dogs we have rescued that needed serious care. One of the things that is important to me is that if a lot of people do just a little bit it makes a massive difference.”

“This is very much an ongoing project, we are in our infancy now, but there is still very much we have to do. As much as it is about the dogs and cats we have got a massive space here, we have got four and a half acres and what we would like to do is use it to the absolute fullest.

“So we want it to be a place where people can come and enjoy the beautiful big open space, take some pictures with the animals if you want to. We intend to have a café and a picnic area, children’s playground, we want to make the place a place for people of all ages to come and have a good time,” Whittaker added.

Whittaker said there is also a house on the grounds of the sanctuary which is opened for locals and tourists alike to visit for staycations.

The founder said the sanctuary also focuses on spaying and neutering the animals to get the situation of unwanted animals which eventually leads to animal cruelty, under control.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb