I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW why a lot of Bajans keep dogs? Every day, everywhere I go I see examples of cruelty.
What is the point of the life of an animal shut up in a small, fitting cage, usually placed in the hot sun? Why have a puppy that is ignored all day, fed a lump of leftover macaroni pie, and left to howl miserably all night? Why tie a dog on a short chain, never, ever letting it out to have exercise?
In the developed world people acknowledge that dogs are intelligent creatures who deserve a quality life.
Unfortunately in Barbados we do not have many examples of “working” dogs. Jobs such as guide dogs for the blind, listening dogs for the deaf.
Dogs can retrieve for the disabled, others can detect types of cancer in humans.
Dogs help in fires, find people in earthquakes, locate people who are lost, help farmers with sheep, round up cattle, find drugs and help the police.
I believe that education is the answer to most problems, but animal welfare seems low on the list of priorities here.
We need to raise awareness of the needs of animals and show compassion.
Laws need to be in place to deal with animal abuse and to be enforced. Could everyone with a sad little creature tied up in their backyard with no food and a bowl of green, disgusting water try to think of a way to make life a little better for their animal? If you don’t like dogs, don’t keep them.
PAT BASING
