STRAY DOG CONCERN

A resurgence in stray dog attacks against farm animals has led to the call for more resources to get these animals off the streets.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul said that there had been several reports of cows and sheep being attacked by groups of dogs in rural districts and costing livestock farmers hundreds of dollars in losses.

Placing the majority of the blame against neglectful dog owners, he claimed that these persons were wilfully allowing these animals to roam free at night.

“This has come about because of reckless owners, especially in rural areas of this country, where there are some people, who instead of containing their dogs at night, let them out and they go and maraud all over the place. We have had reports of sheep being attacked and even had recent evidence of cows being attacked by packs of stray dogs,” he told the media yesterday.

He therefore pleaded for these individuals to ensure that their pets were properly secured at night.

“We know that the veterinary persons within the ministry are doing their best to control the stray dog population in this country, but we have to ask those persons, who have animals and who for some reason or the other cannot control them, to refer them to the relevant authorities instead of letting them out to attack people’s livestock that is their investment,” Paul urged.

He therefore called for more resources to be placed in the hands of the Veterinary Services to once again cut down on the numbers of stray dogs roaming these areas and creating headaches for farmers.

“I have evidence of where on a nightly basis sometimes ten sheep have been attacked and so I am appealing to these people who have dogs, don’t just leave them out when the night comes to go an attack people’s property. Put them up. We have to be careful that people will not take the law into their own hands when they see this foolishness happening in society,” he remarked.
“If people cannot control their domestic animals, they should not have them!” Paul asserted. (JMB)