Animals Alive vice president Jowelle De Souza speaks to Guardian Media about the unlawful euthanizing of pets by the San Fernando City Corporation yesterday.
KRISTIAN DE AILVA
Vice president of Animals Alive Jowelle De Souza says legal action will be filed against the San Fernando City Corporation, for euthanising pet dogs within two hours of capture without allowing the owners enough time to claim them.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, De Souza said since the start of the year, over 7,000 pets have been killed by the corporation.
Saying she has compiled a list of the animals, De Souza questioned why the animals are not being kept for five days in the San Fernando pound until the owner claims the animals.
The San Fernando City Corporation announced on January 17 that it was reopening the canine shelter at Lady Hailes Avenue because of the prevalence of stray dogs.
But De Souza argued that although pets were being picked up by the dog catchers, the stray dogs were still roaming the streets.
Naming a vet allegedly involved in a conspiracy with the corporation, De Souza said she has been seeking a meeting with Mayor Junia Regrello about the problem but has not yet been successful.
De Souza said a family in Mon Repos, whose dog Ginger was put down last week Tuesday, has been distraught since the incident.
“Why are they capturing people’s pets? If you see a collar on the animal and the animal is docile, then why capture and kill an innocent pet? This is inhumane and downright wicked!” she said.
Saying that Animals Alive recently opened a new sanctuary in Princes Town, De Souza said the various regional corporations, as well as city and borough corporations, should be abiding by the law as it relates to animals.
“The laws to protect animals have been passed and enacted and every Corporation should have a shelter for strays,” she declared.
De Souza said the Animals Alive Sanctuary in South Oropouche has 623 animals comprising cats, dogs, turtles and horses.
“The TTPS comes and sees about the horses. We rescued the horses from Princes Town. We don’t have that many resources, yet we don’t put down any dogs there at our shelter,” she said.
De Souza said the owner of the dog contacted the San Fernando City Corporation when the dog went missing and was told to check at the Wharf. However, she said the dog was never taken there but was instead transported to a vet in San Fernando who euthanised the animal.
Guardian Media made several attempts to contact Mayor Regrello for comment but he did not respond to calls or messages.