Doggone job!

TRYING to catch a stray dog in the city of Port-of-Spain, particularly in the vicinity of the Central Market, as strange as it may seem, is the trickiest of jobs you’d ever come across. Why? Because these dogs are seemingly street-wise. They have learned the beat, so that as the dog-catching vehicle pulls up in the area — and as though the designated “look-out” hound sends his signal — they all scamper for hiding. The story of the canine operators attached to the Canine Unit may appear humorous, but it is moreso a challenge.

“Dogs have become very smart over the years,” says Sayad Ali, Chief Public Health Officer and Head of the Inspectorate in control of the unit. “It is not as easy as people think. Some days catchers may come back in with one dog. They have senses; they will relocate to another place so that people feel the unit is not doing its job. But this work has to be ongoing.” Contrary to the norm, in one month alone this year, dog-catchers in the Port-of-Spain area have caught over 100 dogs. This is not an average figure as they have recorded one or no dogs in subsequent months, which is mainly due to a poorly functioning vehicle.

The sole purpose of the unit is to keep the stray dog population at a minimum within the confines of the city. It is a statutory function to remove stray dogs that are liable to spread diseases. The boundaries within which the PoS unit operates begins at the Central Market in the East and extends to West of the flyover into Westmoorings, as far North as Belmont and parts of Maraval, and bounded South by the sea. One risk factor is that of being bitten. Dog-catchers have to contend with mongrels of varying temperaments. According to Ali, “Dogs have their own moods, particularly when in heat they would probably snarl at you. If bitten, persons should get to the nearest health centre or hospital to get an anti-tetanus injection as dogs carry rabies.”

There have been no serious cases of dog-catchers being bitten over the years but they are given anti-tetanus shots every ten years. However, the work of a dog-catcher is indeed, one of humility. He is usually armed with rudimentary equipment, in this case a grasping net attached to a long rod, which covers the animal. He must be very agile and strong as well. “Dogs just don’t stand still and wait to be caught,” Ali explains, so some long distance running is required. It is not part of the criterion for the post, as the two dog-catchers attached to the unit would tell you, but it is required for one keen on catching any dog. Dogs will migrate to places where scraps of food and other edibles are easily accessible. The St James and Port-of-Spain markets are common lingering spots for these mongrels. Ali offers this advice for vendors: “People who vend should always ensure that their food scraps are properly secured and try not to encourage the prevalence of dogs in their area.”

The catchers attached to the unit are middle-aged, family men who have moved up the ranks in their employ. They are not the highest paid at their level, but are contented to do a day’s work for a day’s pay. “It’s a thankless job,” Ali says, making reference to persons employed in the Public Service. “Sometimes people call us complaining about dogs that are out all hours of the night causing a nuisance to neighbours, and they expect catchers to come right away. How can a worker come out at seven in the night when the unit operates from 8 am-4 pm; and then people think you’re not doing it to serve them.” Operators of the Canine Unit can avail themselves of career enhancement and self-esteem-building programmes provided by their employ. The dogs caught are put into kennels at the office at Sea Lots and kept for a period of seven days to allow owners to claim their dogs. “When the owners come to claim the dogs, they must give assurance that they will care for the dogs and keep them within the confines of their property,” reveals Ali.

Failing such, the dogs are euthanised (put to sleep by a painless process). A veterinarian from the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) assists in this process. Ali had more advice for persons “who feel the need to keep a dog.” “You should treat the animal in a very humane way by providing a proper dog kennel and exercise good care. You should be feeding your animals regularly and also keep your premises in a sanitary manner, so that it wouldn’t create a nuisance to neighbours.” He says the most frequent dogs caught are “common dogs.”  “People don’t understand that they are very good watch dogs. They shouldn’t discriminate in caring for them.”