Barbados Veterinary Association issues statement on animal abuse in Barbados

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,’ Mahatma Gandhi.

The Barbados Veterinary Association was founded in 1965 with the mission to ‘Promote and protect the interests of the veterinary profession in the island’, and by extension protect animals in Barbados.

Barbadian Veterinarians have dedicated our lives to the care and treatment of animals. Unfortunately, we have also had to witness the results of atrocities perpetrated against animals in our beautiful Barbados. Whether these atrocities are due to physical injury or cases of neglect (wilful or by ignorance due to lack of knowledge) it is all considered abuse.

The BVA wishes to state that we are emphatically against animal abuse in all species, whether they be companion animals (dogs and cats), exotics or livestock. We strongly condemn such heinous acts.

Every animal deserves the right to live a life free of abuse. That we, as a society, allow these acts to occur and turn a blind eye or merely discuss it on social media platforms or radio programmes is not
enough.

“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men”.  Saint Francis of Assisi

We, therefore, ask the public to report cases of animal abuse to the relevant authorities (Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture, Barbados Police Service, Animal Control Centre, registered
veterinarians and the Barbados RSPCA inspector). We also wish to remind the public that there is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Cap. 144A which states in part in Part II, Section 3:

3. (1) Any person who
(a) wantonly and cruelly beats, ill-treats, starves, over-drives, over-loads, abuses, tortures, infuriates, teases, terrifies, causes unnecessary mutilation or suffering to, or otherwise maltreats
an animal;
(b) causes or procures to be done an act referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) permits an animal to be infuriated, teased, terrified, or caused any unnecessary suffering is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary to a fine of $1000 in respect of each animal mentioned in the charge or to imprisonment for a term of 12 months or to both.

The BVA strongly agrees with other stakeholders that there needs to be better enforcement of this Act and there needs to be a review of the penalties for offences committed in favour of stiffer penalties. The BVA would also suggest that once convicted, there should be court-mandated therapy assigned to the perpetrator.

As Authorized Persons appointed under the above Act, the members of the BVA work closely with the authorities, to obtain justice for ill-treated animals. As veterinary practitioners we also work in the area of public education to change a person's negative perception of animals and emphasize proper animal care and we will continue these endeavours.  We believe that change can occur by educating our youth, starting at the primary level, along with educating the general public through outreaches, public service announcements and general engagement. The members of the Barbados Veterinary Association have done and will continue to do as such and are always willing to assist and support other stakeholders for the enhancement and improvement of the lives of animals on this, island home, Barbados.

Our concern as a profession has been and will always be the well-being of animals.

– Dr Patricia D. Bedford,
 President BVA