Im a visitor as well and I was saddened to see these starving, sick creatures everywhere in Trinidad. I bought a bake and shark sandwich and hand-fed one of these hungry dogs. they are very friendly.

These dogs need some compassion and love. They were following you because they are hungry, sick, mistreated, skinny..they have a very harsh life, and we need to help them instead of chasing them away. It is not their fault that they are stray, they have no home, no owner, no food, no water, no shelter, no medical attention, etc…put yourself in their shoes for a moment and you will understand what they are going through… people need to help these creatures, and people’s best friends! send out e-mails to info@tdc.co.tt and support@ttspca.co and encourage them to help these creatures and provide for them. Donate food, money and other necessities and encourage your friends and anybody you know to do the same…..if everybody helps a little, these dogs will have a better life. Do a good deed because some day somebody might do a good deed for you when you most need it!

Someone who knows a reporter with the local tabloids should suggest an effective photo-story on the issue and see if that spurs some action.

I am the manager of the T & T SPCA. It is indeed as you said, bake and shark a la carte and it is not a desirable situation, but it is something that the Tourism Development Corporation(TDC) and ourselves are trying to correct. We have begun working only recently (October 07) with TDC to remove strays from Maracas, Las Cuevas and Manzanilla on a once monthly basis at each of these beaches. We average about 6 strays per visit. This is not a large figure and would not really address the situation. However, it is a start and what is needed to curb this trend, not only on the beaches but everywhere that strays proliferate, is a sustained program where (a)sick animals are removed and humanely euthanized; and (b)a spay/neuter and release program. The latter is the preferred method for a long term solution. This would call for a greater involvement by the relevant authorities – the TDC, the local regional corporations and the Ministry of Agriculture under whose portfolio, animal welfare falls. The TTSPCA has submitted various proposals to the government asking for a subvention to help us to run this and various programmes but we have not had any responses. As you would realize SPCA’s all over the world suffer from lack of funds and other resources. There are few committed volunteers. There is just so much we can do alone. Many times we are villifed in the press because of our seemingly lack of proactivity. Many citizens do not realize that the Regional Corporations for their area are the ones to pick up strays from the roads, not the TTSPCA, and to add to this, VERY FEW OF THE CORPORATIONS HAVE A CANINE UNIT. We try to pick up injured animals as much as we can, but with one vehicle it is impossible for us to be in Toco, San Fernando, Diego Martin and Arima in one day! To suggest to a caller that they can assist us by trying to bring the animal in to us will result in our being chastised (using euphemism here). As far as they are concerned they have done their civic duty. It is now up to us. So, do not think that we – together with the Animal Welfare Network (AWN) and other dedicted animals activists are not mindful of this situation. We are. But until those in authority who have the funds and the means to assist the TTSPCA and other interested groups in tackling this burgeoning situation, we will continue to see strays all over this beautiful country of ours. Just one final note for your information. Many of the “strays” are owned dogs. Many times the TTSPCA is hindered from removing a dog because the owner comes and takes his dog. Also, dogs that will normally be free to roam, will be tied up when we get there to pick up strays. The villagers let their animals roam to get free food and once our ambulance appears, the dogs have all (but the sickly) mysteriously vanished from the beach.

Theresa Awai

It is always reassuring when others have similar concerns and I have taken the liberty to forward the comments to TDC formaly TIDCO at e-mail: info@tdc.co.tt and TTSPCA at e-mail: support@TTSPCA.co

Hoping that the dogs are relocated to their space and looked after.

If more people would get involved with the TTSPCA (Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and support them – maybe this problem could be fixed. I volunteer there and they help as many dogs as they can. However, until people decide to take the problem seriously, and help in a “good” way this will not go away. The local people need to ask the Government loudly to help with a spay and neuter program for the strays, and get their OWN dogs spayed and neutered.

I feel as if I’ve just been on a soapbox preaching, but it is a huge problem and people need to find a humane way to deal with it. If visitors are appalled, then, yes – they need to let the Tourism group know how they felt. Hopefully, it will spur them on to assist with the very sad problem plaguing the country.

So you can probably try there first to air your grievances re: the stray dogs.