Punish animal abusers, say activists

There are too many repeat offenders abusing animals.

And if stricter penalties or fines are not enforced, animal protection advocates fear more animals could end up hurt, dehydrated, starving or even decapitated.

Trustee and founder of the Horse Charity, Monique Archer, was one of the advocates pleading with the authorities to impose harsher punishments and to do more to educate people about proper animal care and safety.

“The majority of the problem stems from abandoned race horses that can no longer make money for their owners. The owners look for the cheapest way to get out of having them.

“The horses break down at the track and they put them into these youngsters’ hands that are dreaming of being the next Patrick Husbands, but they don’t have the resources, so the horse ends up meeting a horrible demise.

“Either they get loose in the road, get in an accident with a car or a bus, they starve to death, are dehydrated, or they break their legs because [youngsters] don’t know where to ride them,” Archer said.

She made those comments to the DAILY NATION yesterday during an event to address animal cruelty, organised by animal care advocacy group Be Their Voice at the Barbados Cruising Club, Aquatic Gap, St Michael.

The event was held a year after the death of Davino Howard’s dog Sparky. Howard, 28, a firsttime offender, was given probation after he pleaded guilty to wantonly ill-treating and causing unnecessary suffering to the animal on September 13, 2022.