Dogs dumped in Las Cuevas

The foundation in a release reported on on a free spay and neuter clinic held for the Las Cuevas and Maracas communities. The Animal Health and Beach Stray Population Reduction Project, a joint initiative of the Animals 360 Foundation Incorporated and Blue Flag National Coordinator and sponsored by the Tourism Development Company, launched on May 19.

The foundation explained the project formed part of the efforts for Las Cuevas Beach to maintain Blue Flag Status which it has been awarded since 2014 under strict criteria, including the control of the stray animal population.

“The source of the stray animals is mostly the unrestricted reproduction of pet dogs and cats and indiscriminate dumping of unwanted dogs in the area,” the foundation added.

According to Animals 360, a visitor survey at Maracas beach in 2010 revealed that the vast majority of local and international visitors “are appalled by the condition of the stray animals and wish to see a humane approach to reducing the population.” The foundations stressed that the level on which a tourism-focused community deals with its stray animal population demonstrates proactive community management, improves the overall aesthetic impression of a village and reduces health risks. The foundation pointed out that Las Cuevas Beach remains the only Blue Flag certified beach in the southern English- speaking Caribbean.

On the initiative, Animals 360 reported that it consisted of a school outreach programme where representatives taught standards two to five students at Las Cuevas Primary School about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets as well as responsible pet ownership practices,.of material provided by the Animal Welfare Network. There was also a vet field clinic at the Maracas Community Centre provided to the communities of Maracas and Las Cuevas on May 20 and May 21. The field hospital, led by Dr Raymond Deonanan, spayed and neutered 54 dogs and cats as well as de-wormed, treated against ticks and fleas, vaccinated and treated for injury another 32 within the two day time frame. This is the second year of the project, which saw over 100 animals sterilised and treated in June 2016.

This year, the target of 50 animals was well exceeded, the foundation noted.