Police intervene in Leguan stray dog crisis after sheep killed
..as handling of the captured animals draws public ire
Police were called to intervene on Leguan Island in Region Three (Essequibo Island -West Demerara) after a pack of stray dogs attacked and killed five sheep belonging to farmer Sharron Stephens of Enterprise, Leguan Island, on Thursday and Friday nights.
It was revealed that after police received reports of the incident, a police team from Parika Police Station travelled to Leguan on Friday to investigate.
At the scene of the attack, officers identified a freshly dug area where the farmer had buried her sheep.
Further investigations led the team to a nearby Chinese restaurant where 12 dogs, believed to be strays, were seen in the yard. The restaurant operators denied ownership of the animals, insisting that they had simply wandered onto the property.
In an effort to address the issue, the police, using ropes, captured four of the dogs and transported them via police boat to Parika.
They said none of the dogs were harmed in the process, and they were released in the “Bushy Park area”.
The photo circulating on social media that caused the public criticism
While the police intervention was seen as necessary to protect public safety, the handling of the animals sparked criticism from citizens and some animal welfare advocates.
Animal welfare organisation commented on the situation, expressing concern over the methods used to capture and transport the dogs.
“Yes, the dogs are responsible for killing people’s sheep, but they are strays, and hunting is the only way they know how to find food. We should unite and speak out against the inhumane methods used to capture and transport these poor animals. The animal cruelty law states that animals should be transported humanely,” the group said in a statement.
Forever Hope Alive called for the establishment of proper animal control systems and for the use of humane traps rather than methods that could cause distress to the animals.
They also noted that while the dogs were responsible for killing livestock, their behaviour stemmed from hunger and a lack of owners.
The organisation urged citizens and authorities to work together to ensure both animal welfare and public safety are balanced effectively.
