GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman (CNS) -- Concerns are mounting that animal cruelty in Cayman is increasing but the authorities are turning a blind eye.
Over the last few weeks the Humane Society, Paws and concerned members of the public have found and reported several worrying cases to the police and the Department of Agriculture but very little is being done to combat the cruelty, activists believe. From the recent sexual abuse of ponies at a riding centre and concerns about dog fighting to daily abuse of animals, many people believe that while cruelty is on the rise, the authorities are not following up on reports.
Taura Ebanks, who has started a petition calling for animal protection and welfare laws to be enforced against those that commit acts of torture, abuse and neglect, thinks the time has come to raise the alarm and call out the failing authorities. She claims to have made numerous reports to the Department of Agriculture’s animal welfare department that have been ignored and said that unless the authorities step up and start investigating, the abuse will get worse.
On Friday, the local charity Paws was contacted by a member of the public who had taken video footage of a dog that was in terrible condition (see below). Although the charity reported the situation to the authorities and mobilised the help of the Humane Society, the dog died. It turned out that the animal was infected with heartworm and had been slowing dying for months but no one had reported the situation and the owners have not been held to account, Ebanks stated.
Cayman News ServiceAnother dog suffering from an horrific tumour on its eye was also recently taken to the animal shelter and had to be put down because of its poor health and neglect by its owner. But although the owner attended the shelter, the DoA failed to follow up, Ebanks told CNS.
The grizzly remains of the body of a burned dog was found on land in Prospect last month and reported to the department, but there was no investigation, Ebanks said. The dog, which was a pit-bull, was believed to have been involved in dog fighting.
The DoA claims that it does follow up and investigate all reports, though just two animal abuse cases have been referred for prosecution so far this year and over the last five years just seven cases have reached the courts. The DoA said it had not received reports on all of the most recent cases but that the case of the burned dog was referred to the RCIPS.
While the department said that there is always room for improvement when it comes to investigating reports, the DoA’s policy is to educate and work with owners to ensure acceptable animal welfare practices are followed.
If education and cooperation fail to achieve the desired results, they then move on to enforcement and prosecution.
“In cases of severe animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, a stern approach would be taken. In cases where enforcement and/or prosecution are necessary the DoA works closely with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service,” a spokesperson told CNS.
However, Ebanks believes that the authorities are turning a blind eye. While NGOs and volunteers work hard to reduce the unwanted pet population, rehabilitate and re-home animals, cover the costs of caring for animals where owners struggle, the authorities are not taking their part seriously.
She pointed to concerns about dog fights, caged animals that are starved and imprisoned, tied up and left to die, beaten and tortured, as she urged the authorities to prosecute owners.
“The Department of Agriculture is not taking even the basic steps to enforce the animal welfare laws,” she said. “People have stopped reporting to the Department of Agriculture because they feel that nothing will be done.”
Ebanks suggested that the community needs to know more about what steps to take to report animal abuse or neglect. But she said when they do, they need to see what steps are taken by the DoA and other appropriate authorities, such as the police, to find the abuser and investigate the claims in a timely manner. She called for transparent documentation of reported incidents and to see animals removed immediately where there are obvious signs of abuse and neglect, or regular monitoring of animals where the abuse is not so easily apparent.
“These voiceless animals can’t speak for themselves,” Ebanks said. “It is our responsibility to stand up for them to help keep them safe.”