An animal welfare advocate has described as deeply troubling the government’s revelation that close to 1 000 dogs were euthanised last year, and has suggested more lives could be saved if the Animal Control Centre waived fees for transferring the dogs to other organisations.
During Friday’s Estimates debate, Chief Environmental Health Officer Francina Bascombe disclosed that given the rising number of animals in the seven kennels at the Animal Control Centre, euthanasia had become the last available option.
“We are working with the animal welfare persons. People have a problem with the whole concept of euthanisation; however, we have nowhere to keep them. Persons are giving them up so euthanisation is the way we have to go. We are trying to rehome and there is a small market for that. Last month we would have had 127 [dogs] in and only about 12 of them we were able to get rehomed,” Bascombe said.
In a press release on Monday, Karen Whittaker, founding CEO of Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, called the development “tragic”, and called on better strategies to be placed on the table to tackle the issue.
“We are deeply troubled by the recent reports of nearly 1 000 dogs euthanised by the Animal Control Centre in Barbados. This tragic increase highlights the pressing need for comprehensive and compassionate strategies to tackle the root causes of stray animal populations in our communities,” she said.
Though Whittaker explained that the sanctuary was more than willing to take on more abandoned dogs at its property, the ongoing costs associated with taking these animals from the Animal Control Centre have been challenging.
“The current, counterproductive process of Animal Control asking Ocean Acres to take in Animal Control dogs, but compelling us to buy them, needs to be revised, particularly as adoptable dogs are being euthanised that we would take if it was not for the ongoing charges. We advocate for a system that incentivises cooperation rather than creating barriers. We propose solutions such as waiving fees for dogs transferred from Animal Control to registered animal welfare organisations like Ocean Acres, or providing subsidies to cover the cost of care for animals in need,” she said.
The animal welfare advocate further stated that more needs to be done to improve the education and awareness training for pet owners, to effectively reduce the high levels of stray animals still being seen around the island.
“Education plays a crucial role in addressing the root causes of stray animal populations. We must work together to raise awareness about the importance of spaying/neutering, responsible pet ownership, and the resources available for pet owners facing challenges in caring for their animals,” Whittaker said.
She added: “At Ocean Acres, we believe in working together with stakeholders to find humane solutions to the challenges facing our animal companions. We stand ready to collaborate with the government, including [Agriculture] Minister Weir and Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Jerome Walcott, to develop and implement policies that prioritise the welfare and well-being of animals in Barbados.” (SB)
