Euthanisation of Nearly 1,000 Dogs in Barbados Raises Concerns, Officials Address Stray Animal Issue

Close to 1 000 dogs were euthanised in Barbados by the Animal Control Centre in 2023, Chief Environmental Health Officer Francina Bascombe said on Friday.

Disclosing in the Estimates debate that the number increased from 600 to 987, she explained that the Animal Control Centre was limited in its ability to house an increasing number of animals in the seven kennels at its facility.

“We are working with the animal welfare persons. People have a problem with the whole concept of euthanisation; however, we have nowhere to keep them. Persons are giving them up so euthanisation is the way we have to go,” Bascombe reported. “We are trying to rehome and there is a small market for that. Last month we would have had 127 [dogs] in and only about 12 of them we were able to get rehomed.”

Bascombe said more and more dog owners were giving up responsibility for their animals and the centre was still collecting strays.

“What we have found in recent times is that persons can no longer manage their dogs and they are just letting them go,” she said.

Her comments came in response to a question from Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security Indar Weir who wanted to clarify that the Animal Control Centre fell within the ambit of the health ministry and not his ministry. He said his department is inundated with calls about stray dogs which attack and kill Blackbelly sheep.

Minister Weir queried whether there was any collaboration on policy with Ocean Acres Sanctuary about the growing problem.

Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Dr Jerome Walcott acknowledged that the problem of stray animals was a concern for his ministry. He gave the assurance that the issue was being taken seriously and the ministry would be moving “more stridently” to address it in the future.

Permanent Secretary Wayne Marshall also told the debate that the ministry is looking to employ additional personnel in the area of animal welfare.

He said a proposed animal welfare coordinator would be responsible for monitoring animal welfare, checking on any animal with a potential welfare issue, and acting as the liaison between the private and public sector to facilitate outreach and share education with the public.

(SP)