Poor conditions at TTSPCA

THE EDITOR: I am responding to an article written in the TT Mirror a few issues ago about the TTSPCA. Because the subject is important, I’m also addressing the daily papers. The article in question contained little but propaganda, as anyone who has been near this institution in the past ten years will know. To be fair to the reporter who wrote the article, one wonders if the content would be so flattering if he/she made an unplanned visit to the institution like normal members of the public whom the TTSPCA does not need to impress.

Over the past many years when I have visited the TTSPCA, I found the animals being housed in deplorable conditions. Last time I visited, there were more than four dogs to a kennel. The kennels were dirty, the animals were unwashed, undernourished and clearly depressed, and as for exercise —  I don’t think that any of those animals had been out of their cages since their incarceration. I discovered that there is no vet appointed to the TTSPCA and one wonders, at what point in a dog’s illness, is veterinary help actually sought. Ticks and fleas were in abundance on the animals and many had obvious eye infections. As for the cats...they did not appear to fare much better; some were suffering from coccidiosis and also had ear mites and fleas. They, too, were being maintained in overcrowded conditions; some would hardly see daylight. It is not surprising that the adult cats looked desperate to escape their permanent confinement. The kittens were grouped together in one large box type cage and many of them would probably never live to become adult cats — perhaps they are the lucky ones!

From personal experience in adopting a dog — first of all, you go to TTSPCA to adopt but before you can even view the animals you need to get a personal visit to check your house. I totally agree with the policy of checking the homes, but you can wait for months on end before they come! One would think that they would be anxious to find these animals a place of their own. But no! You have to pester them and when they finally do visit — a police search could not be more thorough — one wonders if the intent is to “maco” your house rather than check its suitability to house an animal. When you are lucky and have passed the prosperity test you can then visit TTSPCA again and select a dog — if you have enough money to pay. First of all, you have to pay for the spaying/neutering of the animal. Now while I am absolutely for the spaying/neutering of strays in order to cut down on the number of these forlorn animals, I think that the TTSPCA should try to foot some of the bills in the case of future adopters who do not have the necessary cash. Many people who would provide excellent homes to these animals just do not have the money to pay for a spay/neuter. But it does not end there as you are then informed that you must pay for a vaccination plus a TTSPCA collar and finally you must also make a donation.

If the lady who runs the TTSPCA really cared about these animals, surely they would take a more pro-active stand. They would also try to ensure that the animals are maintained in good health, exercised and groomed regularly and provided with some level of exercise and stimulation to allow them to lead a happier life. Why, then, do these conditions exist? It seems to be a combination of things. 1) The management of the TTSPCA is far too old to handle something so complicated. (To give you an idea, about 65 dogs and 60 to 70 cast are in the “care” of a couple in their 80s/late 70s.) Even if they were actually dedicated to the animals, the task would be too much for them. 2) However, since they seem to care more about making a living, the situation is even worse. The TTSPCA proudly proclaims its association with the RSPCA in England from whom it probably gets financial assistance, in addition to legacies from misguided people who think the TTSPCA actually helps animals. That funding is intended to help relieve suffering, not line the pockets of the organisers. 3) No one has seriously questioned these practices in years. Trinidad may not actually lay claim to being an animal loving country, but even the hardest of hearts could not help but be moved by the plight of these animals. The time has come, for the sake of the poor animals trapped inside, for a full and public examination and government intervention if all else fails.

SUMINTRA DEONARINE
Macbean