COVID-19 fallout ‘taking toll on animals’

An animal sanctuary operator says the situation is growing increasingly dire for cats and dogs whose owners can no longer care for them because of the hardship brought on by the current economic conditions.

Karen Whittaker, Founder and Managing Director of the Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, formerly Hope, told Barbados TODAY that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of animals being dumped across the island as individuals and families find it more difficult to provide and care for them.

And she is pleading with Barbadians to be more proactive and responsible by spaying and neutering their animals.

“Please, don’t think it is not natural or isn’t healthy. It is. We don’t want more of these. This will control it because what happens is that people start off with two dogs and before you know it they have six, and previously they were managing but now they are not. So absolutely now more than ever spay and neuter your pets,” she pleaded.

Whittaker’s call comes six months after she reported that her sanctuary had rescued some 30 dogs since the start of the pandemic in March.

She said since June she had rescued dozens more cats and dogs, pointing out that a part of the challenge was due to people breeding them to sell, especially the pit bulls.

Recalling the number of calls she would get per day when the COVID-19 pandemic first started affecting Barbados, she said: “to be honest, that was just the beginning”.

“It wasn’t bad then, not for us, because people didn’t know what had hit them. Now in the following months as things sort of panned out and people lost their jobs and things got harder, it has gotten worse for the animals,” she said.

“All the time I get between 10 and 20 calls on my phone from people who either have to move house because they can no longer afford to live where they do, so they have to get rid of their dogs, or they can’t afford to feed their dogs or cats.

“It is bad, people are finding dogs all the time because if people can’t find a home for their dogs they tend to just dump them. It is hard, really hard. There are so many out there,” she lamented.

She said often times when the charity goes out to pick up dogs and cats “they are in a bad state”, and so too are the owners.

“The people are in a bad state too. So our job doesn’t end with the dogs and cats, they are just collateral damage, if you like,” she said.

“Even if you don’t care about dogs and cats or you don’t like them it doesn’t mean we should live in a society where they are just abused,” she said.

Describing the situation as heartbreaking, Whittaker said the problem is an island-wide one.

“Sometimes it is just skin and bones . . . There are dogs that can barely stand up because they are just skeletons – weak and are falling over. The picture is not for the faint-hearted,” she said.

The animal lover said while it was easier to notice the dogs, it was a similar situation facing cats across the country.

She said the Newcastle, St John charity was managing as best it could in the circumstances as it continued to rescue the animals and care for them, pointing out that she continued to get support from kind individuals.

“All of the donations however small, whether it is in kind, services or whatever it is, that is what keeps us going,” she said.

She said the animal sanctuary has been “fortunate” to have done just over 150 adoptions this year.

“One of the things we have been able to do lately since flights are going to Canada, we have been able to forge a partnership with a shelter in Canada to take some of our dogs. So we are able to do that to get some dogs out of Barbados because we have too many,” said Whittaker, who pointed out that the plan was to do the same for cats next year.

For now, the charity has introduced a 2021 calendar featuring its cats to give them “the attention” they deserve. The calendars are available for sale at several locations including the Hastings Market, Ocean Acres and Best of Barbados gift shop.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)