Local government officials from several municipal and regional corporations are meeting to discuss the implementation of the Dog Control Act. The act became law in June but several sections are yet to be proclaimed and are now before the Legislative Review Committee.
In an interview, vice president of Animals Alive, Jowelle De Souza, said nothing had been put in place by Government for the act to be effective. She said dog owners had been taking their dogs to veterinarians privately to have their pets tagged with tracking microchips but no mechanisms were in place to store data.
She also said people continued to abandon dogs because no provisions had been made by the regional corporations to house animals and while some municipalities had arrangements with the T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA), most did not. De Souza also lamented that although regional corporations had to prepare buildings and staff kennels, nothing had been prepared.
In an interview, chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Premchand Sookoo said CEO Raymond Seepaul was dealing with the issue and he did not know what arrangements had been made. Chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation Leo Doodnath said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Shivnauth Balkaran was putting things in place.
“In terms of the establishment of dog pounds, we have not reached there yet. Dr Balkaran has been mandated to ensure that whatever we have to do with respect to the requirements of the act will be done so we will be compliant,” Doodnath said. He said Balkaran was expected to report to the corporation at its monthly meeting.
San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein also said a meeting would be held today to discuss the matter, and $1 million had been allocated to upgrade the San Fernando pound. “Discussions are ongoing to relocate it to Marabella,” Hosein said.
Two classes of dogs
The law separates dogs into two classes—A and B. Class A is considered the more dangerous types of dogs—the pitbull terrier, Fila Brasileiro and the Japanese Tosa and any dog bred from these breeds. Class B dogs are all other types of dogs.
The act says the owner of a Class A dog must have an insurance policy with coverage of not less than $250,000 for each dog.These dogs are banned from entering restaurants or public eating establishments unless they are guide dogs.
If they go into public places, they must be properly muzzled and on a leash. Class A dogs must be licensed for two years. The law gives local government the power to take charge of a Class A dog where the owner cannot meet the requirements of the act.
AG: act already law
But in a phone interview Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said the Dog Control Act was already law and had been implemented. He said this was why nobody had been negligent with their animals since the act was passed.
“The act is operational right now. If you look at the sections that were proclaimed, you will see the most important sections were proclaimed, and that is why we have not had dangerous dog incidents since those sections were proclaimed. People know if they are negligent they will get locked up,” Ramlogan said. He added that “certain sections of the act which require regulations, and which have been drafted, are before the LRC.”