Education is the key to ensuring the welfare of animals in the Cayman Islands, says Senior Animal Health and Welfare Officer Ronald Green of the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Green, along with newly appointed Animal Welfare Officer Maggie Baldino, is set to make a difference in the lives of animals and their owners across the Cayman Islands, said a GIS press release.
Two of the residents of the animal rescue shelter facility in Lower Valley on Agricola Drive. These dogs await their owners or if unclaimed, possible adoption. |
‘These appointments strengthen the area of animal welfare and control in our department,’ said Chief Agricultural and Veterinary Officer Dr. Alfred Benjamin.
‘We are pleased to have filled this critical position with someone of the calibre of Ms. Baldino. The DoA now has a full-time staff member who can investigate and enforce the Animal Law (2003 revised).’
Mr. Green stepped into his new duties in November 2005 and brings more than 18 years experience with the department in other areas related to animal health care. He said he looks forward to working with Ms Baldino to increase awareness of animal issues.
‘During our daily duties, we work with animal owners in cases where there is animal neglect. We always try to help change the owner’s behaviour through education,’ Mr. Green said in the release.
As the most senior member of the animal health and welfare area, Mr. Green also manages the animal rescue shelter facility and supervises the officers who maintain the facility and pick up stray animals. In addition, he oversees the department’s animal welfare and control programmes; assists in providing animal health-care services to livestock farmers; and carries out health-inspection procedures for animals entering and leaving the island.
Code of ethics
As part of their duties, Mr. Green and Ms. Baldino work closely with the Animal Welfare Council. Appointed by the Minister responsible for Agriculture, this Committee is now in the process of preparing a code of ethics which will establish basic guidelines for the proper care and handling of all classes of animals in the Cayman Islands.
The five-member council is chaired by the Chief Agriculture and Veterinary Officer and includes representatives from the Cayman Islands Humane Society; the Cayman Islands Horse Association; the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service; and a member of the public with special interest in animal welfare issues.
Ms Baldino joins the department after serving eight years with the RCIPS, the last two as a sergeant where she supervised officers in Bodden Town and George Town. She comes to the department with experience from the canine division and the drug task force marine section.
‘Ms Baldino was always helpful in cases while at the RCIPS, and having her onboard means we can streamline our efforts, conduct our own investigations and enforce the law,’ Mr. Green said.
Explained Ms Baldino, ‘I’ve always been interested in animal welfare cases, and my volunteer work as an animal cruelty liaison officer for the RCIPS, in cases pursued by the DoA and the Humane Society, led me to this new career.
‘I look forward to continuing good relations with the RCIPS and I’ll support them in their investigations,’ she continued. ‘We emphasise, however, that the RCIPS – not the DoA – is responsible for investigating animal attacks and accidents involving dogs.’
Public awareness
Among her daily duties, Ms. Baldino follows up calls from the public related to animal neglect and control issues, and she promotes public awareness and education in order to reduce the number of stray and roaming animals. She noted that animal welfare cases extend beyond dogs to livestock, horses, wild animals and birds.
Changing people’s perceptions and attitudes towards animals is top of the list for the department, Mr. Green acknowledged. ‘Animal welfare will only improve on these islands if the entire society adopts a culture of caring for animals,’ he said.
To help promote this message, the department will reach out to the public at the Agriculture Show on Ash Wednesday (1 March) and to students through schools tours in all districts this year.
Mr. Green points out that many parents give animals to their children as pets, and ‘if we can reach out to students and educate them on the responsibilities of pet ownership, this will help to bring about changes in attitudes.’
Both Mr. Green and Ms Baldino emphasise that education is the most important part of their jobs. ‘We always try to educate before taking more drastic actions,’ said Ms. Baldino. ‘I want to work with the public to help educate and provide advice, the last resort is to prosecute.’
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