Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.
by Gail Hunte
We all more or less agree that the major problem we have in Barbados with the enforcement of our animal legislation stems from the lack of capacity of those authorised persons to know what to do.
Therefore the government needs to create a steering committee, to create standard operating procedures (SOP) and implement these SOPs across multidisciplinary teams such as Environmental Health, vets, the police and shelters. In addition, we need more authorised persons to be able to enact the legislation.
Questions the steering committee needs to address include:
Once an animal is seized what happens to the animal? Government vet services are a little more advanced in this, having dealt with a few livestock cases, so maybe they can help set up procedures. Perhaps also they can set up a memorandum of understanding whereby shelters can help with dogs seized?
Can the judicial system then ensure these animal cases are handled swiftly due to the nature of the situation? If so, how? Maybe in some instances, penalties can be given with an agreement made for improvements in the level of care. Some re-homed.
Some sadly euthanised. Do we also need another department outside of Animal Control to deal with animal cruelty and with a database created just for this (switch up roles or expand them)? Animal Control may need to restructure into something else long-term.
If we want to see enforcement, we need to address all of this and more. Proposals have been put forward by many, but who starts the ball rolling in training and implementation?
Let’s consider public funding or other means, to help facilitate our animal laws being enforced, otherwise, some form of income needs to be generated for this purpose.
We cannot keep talking about the problem without implementing procedures.
We cannot keep expecting shelters to ‘jump in’ to save animals, they should just be supplementing the work of the government.
We do need to understand this is a societal, economical, and psychological issue that affects, responsible pet owners, livestock farmers, workers involved in animal husbandry, shelters, volunteers and children, and especially those who due to economic deprivation, subject their animals to neglect as there is no assistance (education) for them with things like low-cost vet care.
We cannot expect a change in behaviour without education occuring that is able to resonate with all demographics at the community level (we need to educate at the ground level and not just through infomercials).
We need to move away from the limited belief that there is a culture around a fear of animals’ in Barbados because some of the strongest animal welfare advocates today are local people and they also take up the largest market in pet ownership and care.
Speak with dog trainers to see the influx and growing trend of Barbadians wanting to learn how to train and socialise their dogs. Speak with the Barbados SPCA and ask them how busy they are with their neutering and clinics.
Therefore, data indicates that Barbadians are becoming more aware of their responsibilities to care for their pets and livestock. But all this good is undone, by our punitive efforts to enforce animal laws when needed and deal with those that still inflict abuse on their animals due to negligence, lack of education and those who are systematic animal abusers.
Let’s collectively keep advocating that for once and for all our government can create a steering committee and remedy this issue.
We are not expecting overnight change, but we are expecting change. We know animal abuse is a global issue, however, this doesn’t mean we can just talk about legislation, make amendments and do nothing to help these creatures we are caretakers of.
Let there be accountability for those “authorised persons” as there are in any other job role. We can do better and must do better as part of being self-actualised human beings.
Gail Hunte – Trustee for Action for Animals Barbados (AFAB) Creative Entrepreneur/Author/Animal Welfare Advocate.
