Guest Column by Paws for Cause – Guyana
Dr Surujbally’s Note: “Paws for a Cause” – Guyana (“Paws”) is a local Animal Welfare Group operating and registered in Guyana as a Non-Profit Organisation. The Group works to prevent animal cruelty, to promote humane, ethical, and responsible pet ownership, to advocate for controlling the animal population via spay and neuter campaigns, to educate the public, and to assist in cases of reported animal neglect and abuse. The Group’s work extends beyond dog and cats and includes all animals, including wildlife in Guyana. Occasionally, they will contribute a “PAWS” PERSPECTIVE to the “PET CARE” column reporting members’ experiences in animal welfare.
“Paws” Perspective
Being involved in animal welfare means that you are signing up to travel on a rollercoaster of emotions on almost a daily basis. At Paws for a Cause-Guyana, not all of our stories have a happy ending, but there is often meant to be taken from tragedy.
Recently, we picked up two healthy-looking and friendly stray puppies in LBI. We noticed that they were walking a little funny, and realized that both of the pups had deformed hind legs. Their joint regions weren’t properly formed so although they were able to wag their tails freely, they couldn’t run and jump like regular pups. Upon screening, they seemed to be in reasonable health otherwise and were vaccinated, dewormed, and transferred to one of our foster homes to recover as best as they could. The deformity was diagnosed to be permanent for both.
These pups quickly got accustomed to their surroundings, and their disability didn’t stop them – they didn’t even seem to realize that they were physically hindered! They would slide back and forth when they needed to move, and figured out a way to hop while moving, which allowed them to run in their own unique way. They were truly an inspiration to all us at Paws, helping us to put our problems in perspective – the pups found a way to manage their physical disabilities. Being home and social distancing was made so much easier when we looked at these pups thriving in adversity.
Shortly after they arrived at the foster home, we started to see blood in their stool. They were diagnosed with Canine Parvovirus, a potentially fatal disease if left untreated. We lost a puppy and saved a puppy from Parvo in the past and we are all aware of the toll it takes on a puppy’s body. They were inbred, and inbred pups often suffer from severe genetic issues and a compromised immune system. Both of these were prevalent in the two pups. They were given a less than 5 per cent chance of survival. We had to make the incredibly difficult decision to say goodbye. The alternative was a short, painful life for each as they wasted their way toward death.
Animal welfare advocates always have to be prepared to deal with the tragedy, anger and frustration that may come along with the dozens of cases we see daily. It is incredibly hard to make a decision to say goodbye to a pup, especially when they have already overcome such hurdles and you have witnessed their fight to live life.
It is also hard to come to grips with the fact that leaving them as they are to battle it out will condemn them to a life of pain and suffering, something that no living creature deserves, human or not.
We also have had to speed up the processing of our grief because there are so many more abuses, neglect, abandonment and stray cases just waiting to be dealt with. It has gotten worse in the time of COVID-19 because many people seem to think that they can get Coronavirus from their pets, which has led to an increase in strays and drop-offs at the GSPCA. There is currently no evidence to support the theory that Covid-19 can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. Going through this draws a parallel to what we imagine COVID-19 Health workers may be emotionally going through on a daily basis with their patients. The curve is not yet flattened in Guyana, and the uncertainty of the situation can cause additional mental stress.
In their death, these pups continue to remind us of the important things in life. They remind us of the importance of spaying and neutering pets to prevent inbreeding as well as the necessity of proper medical screening for all humans and animals. They encourage us to work to find ways to overcome the adversity in our lives and remind us to stay home and keep ourselves and others safe. Spare a thought for the physical and mental welfare of all our health & front line workers, and take a minute to check-in or thank them in your own way for voluntarily signing up to help in battling this. If you’d like to foster or adopt a pet, we have many looking for a home. If you can’t, consider supporting our work. At the very least, you can be kind, stay home, and give your pet an extra hug.
If you’d like to offer comments, support or follow our work, find us on Facebook.com/Pawsforacause.gy, on Instagram @pawsforacause.guyana, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, drop us a line at [email protected], or visit our website at https://www.pawsforacausegy.com.
Animal welfare is everyone’s business. You don’t have to be an animal person – you just have to be a kind person.
