Fri June 28, 2013

Editor: Last week, VSPCA received a call from someone in Calliaqua about a neighbour’s dog who they felt was being abused. When one of our officers visited the site, she found two dogs tied on short chains and obviously starving. The female dog had no shelter of any kind and it was clear that she was suffering (see picture above).{{more}}

VSPCA picked up the female dog from the owner (who was quite prepared to let her go). She was taken to the Vet whose opinion was that she was not suffering from any particular ailment, but that she was being starved to death. This type of thing happens more often than you would believe.

There are laws covering cruelty to animals in this country, namely, The Protection of Animals Act, Chapter 68, but this Act is not implemented by the Police or other authorities as numerous reports to the Police have taught us. Under the Act, any person who is found guilty of the offence of cruelty to an animal is subject to a fine of $1,500 and prison for up to three months. The Act can be found on the VSPCA website: www.vincentianspca.org

It is high time that we in this Country, who call ourselves civilised, stop abusing and ill-treating our domestic and farm animals as well as treating our wildlife with disdain. If we choose to own a pet, there are minimum standards for care and treatment of such. Keeping a dog tied on a short leash without shelter amounts to CRUELTY. Not feeding your pet and providing water amounts to CRUELTY. If you do not have a secure place to keep a pet, or cannot afford to feed it and provide vetinary care as needed, you should not own a pet.

VSPCA is determined to do its best to stamp out attitudes in this country that seem to say that it is quite okay to starve a dog or cat and to keep a dog tied on a short leash for its entire life. Dogs need exercise. We will keep reporting such matters to the Police in the hope and expectation that they will start implementing the law (that is their job, isn’t it?). We will respond to reports of cruelty, abandoment and neglect. We are a small, cash-strapped organisation but we have a core group of people who are passionate about making things better for all animals in this country. We would welcome volunteers to help us with our mission.

Let us repeat the words of that great pacifist Mahatma Gandhi:

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

Using that criteria, we are not great in any way. Please let us work together to make things better for all our animals, both domestic and wild. You can call VSPCA at 784 532 9327 to offer your services or tell us how we can help. We can give advice on the proper care and treatment of domestic animals and we can offer you a pet if we are satisfied that you are a proper person to own a pet within a secure environment.

VSPCA