Saint Lucia animal shelters are overwhelmed by the number of abandoned dogs and puppies people ask them to rescue.
One of the shelters received thirteen abandoned puppies on Saturday.
But on Tuesday morning, Castries resident Marcus Day, who picked up a puppy and adopted it about a month ago, discovered six more on Vigie Beach.
He explained that people constantly drop animals, primarily dogs, on Vigie Beach.
He recalled that beach vendors told him of six abandoned puppies during his morning walk on Tuesday.
“They said, ‘We were here last night. There were no puppies – no dogs, and now this morning, six brand new puppies,'” Day stated.
“We kind of know all the abandoned dogs on the beach, and there are none that have given birth recently,” he told St. Lucia Times.
According to Day, the Saint Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS) has spayed most of the adult female dogs.
“People just drop dogs here,” he lamented.
In addition, Day explained that the people who rescue abandoned animals are overwhelmed.
SLAPS was caring for 141 animals.
Day said in one instance, a local shelter was expecting five litters.
He suggested intensifying spaying to reduce the stray dog population, noting that the strays make a mess on the beach by rummaging through garbage cans when hungry.
But spaying would be costly.
“It looks bad for the (tourism) product,” Day declared regarding the situation of stray dogs and abandoned animals.
Some people can’t afford or can’t have pets at their household. They have no choice but to get rid of it since we don’t know any animal shelter
Ministry of health can donate a $50k to getting rid of strays. Put the diseased ones to sleep and get the ones that are salvageable fixed. One dog is about $300 that’s a lot of unwanted puppies off the streets.
I thought they were ll travelling via free to canada
With all the Chinese restaurants around one would think this problem would be solved. Unless they lied about these folks.
Don’t worry, let them grow. Economic meltdown coming. Free food.
@Phun Choo, what does your comment mean? Are the Chinese more willing than others to keep the animals as pets?
I love animals’ if i had money i would open a shelter and take as many in. At the moment i have 4, i take care of them very well.
Sensitive the.public to the importance of spaying their animals to prevent making puppies. Also encourage vets to go into communities to provide injections to prevent female dogs from giving birth. I think there is an injection available. St Lucia is also in need of more veterinarians and some scholarships should go to that type of training at the government level.Encourage people to spay cats as well. There is a big problem there too. address animal abuse too.
If you can, give a donation to SLAPS, please.
These hard working angels look after all of God’s children. God, dog
All deserve their birth right, LIFE.
@sap the injection is more expensive than spaying. It must also be administered every six months.
Too many people who does not have love nor can give the desired care are animal owner they abandon them and it becomes everyone’s problem.
You get a dog spay it one time. Dogs are too untreated here on this island. People abuse the self dogs to be used as barking when strangers are around but dint take them to see medical care. I adore the rules and laws all-out animals over seas. When tourist come here some think we are heartless to see the dogs begging for food roaming the streets. Cats as well. It’s about time every pet gets registered in their homes just like the UK,US and French.
@Jonas. Yes of course! Pets. Obedient tasty pets.
Probably what’s needed is another “Norman Chien.” Local lore has it that he was ruthless at his job and kept the downtown area animal-free. It’s obvious that a governmental intervention is required due to serious health and safety concerns. That responsibility was once under the purvey of the CCC. I eh know what’s happening with them now. That body was proactive under Peterson. Since he’s gone, it’s all “jab en sac.”
The level of ignorance in these comments it’s no suprise that we have this problem on the island.