San Fernando to get $1.5M dog pound

The announcement of a $1.5 M dog pound was made yesterday by San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein during the monthly statutory meeting of the San Fernando City Council (SFCC). Construction of the facility, which according to Hosein will be built to international standards, is expected to begin in “a few weeks time” at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, the same site where the original dog pound stood.

Last Friday, officials of the SFCC’s Public Health Department and other stakeholders carried out a site visit and yesterday reported to the meeting that it was successful. Only last week Hosein took the decision to temporarily shut down the age old dog pound, a move which, he said, was prompted by a fouryear- old video that went viral on social media and which told of inhumane treatment being meted out the animals.

The video sparked a national debate and Hosein and SFCC came in for heavy tongue lashing.

He subsequently met with stakeholders on a way forward.

Hosein explained: “On social media they are blaming us for what took place four years ago on the compound but it never took place under our administration.

It did not happen under us, we will never treat animals in that inhumane way.” Hosein explained that the Ministry of Local Government has approved the money for the new dog pound, a place he said where persons can come to adopt their dogs.

Hosein said he is working with several animal rights activists among them veterinarian Dr Kriyaan Singh.