It is unfortunate, based on the content Ms Diana Klein’s letter, that she has been misinformed as to the actions of the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture and more importantly, has little information or knowledge about the work and role of our department.
As one of its many roles, the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture is charged with the responsibility of collecting and receiving stray animals that are caught in public places or on private property.
In carrying out this responsibility, stray dogs and cats that are collected are held at the department’s animal shelter for a minimum of seven days as mandated by law.
If the animals can be identified by their license, which all dogs are required to have under the law, micro-chip or other means, the owners are contacted and the animal re-homed after the owner pays a small fee for allowing the animal to roam.
The department maintains an ongoing public awareness campaign to inform residents that have lost or are missing animals to immediately contact the shelter to determine if their animal is there. A limited number of unclaimed animals are also adopted out from the shelter.
Unfortunately, despite the efforts made by the DoA and other private organisations to educate the public, the Cayman Islands faces a major problem with stray and unwanted dogs and cats caused by irresponsible pet owners who allow their animals to roam and breed indiscriminately. As a result there are not enough residents willing to adopt all of these animals and not enough government resources to maintain them. Every year the department and its staff has the tough but necessary and legally mandated responsibility of euthanizing hundreds of unwanted dogs and cats that would otherwise suffer on our streets and become nuisances in our neighbourhoods.
If the department was in possession of a dog with a known name, as her letter implies, then the department would have made every effort to notify the owner but this was not the case. In fact the Department was in possession of a stray dog that had been held in the shelter for longer that the period required under the law, the animal was not adoptable and like numerous other strays it was euthanized.
It is unfortunate when any animal has to be put down, however, the real focus here should not be on the death of any one animal but on addressing the issue of the large number of stray and unwanted animals and the underlying root cause; the lack of owner responsibility.
Educating the public on the proper care of animals and enforcing animal welfare laws are the only long term solutions to this problem and are functions the department’s animal welfare unit takes very seriously.
Although limited in its resources, the staff of the animal welfare unit works diligently to educate the public and to improve and protect the welfare of all animals in the Cayman Islands.
Since its inception, the animal welfare officers have investigated numerous cases of animal neglect and, at times, abuse. In the vast majority of cases, through education and working with the owners, they have been able to resolve the situation to the benefit of the animals.
Despite these successes, the Department and its officers realise there is a lot more to be done to improve animal welfare and address the stray animal problems in these islands. Through ongoing education, enforcement and recommendations for improvements to the policies, laws and regulations governing animal welfare issues, the department is committed to working toward the goal set for it by the government and the people of the Cayman Islands of ensuring that the animal population is well taken care of and protected (both from people and other animals) while ensuring that the human population is safe from the threat and nuisance posed by stray and improperly controlled animals.
To criticize the Department of Agriculture and its dedicated staff over one particular issue, without full knowledge of the facts or full appreciation of the work and role of the department, is insulting and a serious disservice to our hard working and caring officers.
Further, to sit in one country and criticise and condemn the actions of people in another country without full knowledge and understanding of the situation in that country, the role of its government agencies, the policies of government and the wishes of the majority of its people, is misdirected, inappropriate and ill-advised.
The Department of Agriculture is always willing to answer queries and welcomes the opportunity to discuss and educate any interested person as to our roles and the challenges faced in carrying out our duties, in this case improving animal welfare in the Cayman Islands.
Brian Crichlow
Assistant director Agriculture (acting)/media liaison for the Director of Agriculture
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