Suffering dogs, cats

There were pleas for us to take in more animals, tears and grief at the state of their suffering and neglect, promises that TT will be blacklisted by animal lovers, disbelief that this level of neglect could still be present in our society, astonishment that the laws for animal cruelty are derelict and largely not enforced, vexation that the updating of these laws to ensure owners carry out their duty of care have not received priority to be updated and enforced.

I ask again, when are we going to stop the shameless suffering? When are laws to prevent animal cruelty and neglect going to be revised, added to and passed so that animals can be treated with dignity and respect and kept safe from irresponsible owners who should be made culpable under the law? These laws will make for a civil society. And tourists will not be tortured when they come here.

Some have even posted pictures of the suffering and have told their friends not to visit.

Mr AG, please open meaningful consultation with stakeholders and interest groups and let the work begin to draft these laws and save these animals from the hands of inhumane humans and save our country from the bad reputation it has now.

Every tourist dollar counts in an economy that should be diversifying and now many are swearing never to return.

Kathryn Cleghorn president, Animals Alive