68 dangerous dog reports in first half of year

| 23/06/2017 | 36 Comments

(CNS): As well as a worrying amount of animal abuse being reported to the authorities, the police said they are also dealing with a spike in reports of people being attacked and bitten by ferocious or dangerously out of control dogs. So far this year, the RCIPS has dealt with 68 reports of attacks, and in seven cases the people bitten needed medical treatment. In two attacks over the last week, one in Bodden Town and another in the Rock Hole area of George Town, the bites were so bad that the victims were taken by ambulance to hospital.

Police said that in many of the cases they have dealt with the victims had been either walking or riding along public streets when they were chased by untethered dogs that aggressively pursued them. In some cases people climbed on top of parked cars or had to rush indoors to avoid being bitten; in three of the cases where dog bites occurred, the victim was chased by multiple dogs.

So far, none of the people who have been bitten sustained serious or life-changing injuries.

While police have not always been able to determine who, if anyone, owned the dogs, in many of the incidents they did identify an owner and in most cases the animals were not properly licensed or secured.

In addition to the 68 cases reported, there are likely to be more cases that have gone unreported, presenting yet another major challenge that the police have to deal during a serious crime spike. The police said they are now working with the Department of Agriculture to reduce the number of attacks and out of control dogs on the street. They are also urging pet owners to control their animals and working on strategies to educate the public about keeping them secured.

“Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be a terrifying experience,” said Robbie Graham, Superintendent of Uniform Operations. “We are seeing a trend of dog attacks as of late and want to remind dog owners of their obligations under the law. You are responsible for what your dog does.”

“Dog owners know their animals as pets and often have a hard time seeing them as a potential threat,” said Assistant DoA Director Brian Crichlow. “But the fact is that their dog can be a threat to those it does not know and often may display an aggressive territoriality in the area around its home. Dog owners therefore need to, and are required by the law, to confine their dogs to their property either in a fenced enclosure or tethered in a humane manner.

The police said animal owners should get a copy of the Animals Law and guidelines on the proper care for animals. 

The law can be found in the CNS Library

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Category: Crime

Comments (36)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The issue is that you report something……………and then nothing happens. At best the animal welfare officer goes out and gives the owner a little talking to……and two days later, dog is still roaming around and chasing people. I have to load my own dogs in a vehicle and drive them elsewhere cause it is too dangerous to walk them in my own neighborhood with every other yard having unsupervised aggressive dogs coming after us.

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  2. Good Luck says:

    I’ve had a situation involving a few dogs years ago that we’re able to get into the yard by jumping the fence and mauled the pets we had. We contacted the department of agriculture and asked if they would come swiftly to remove the dogs and, was told we would have to wait a few days for someone to set a trap for them in the yard.

    A few days? The dog’s we’re right in the yard not going anywhere but, we have to wait a few days? With these violent dogs in the yard?

    My point is, no one really #&#*- cares until it’s their pets or their own child that is attacked. Don’t be surprised when you call the appropiate authorities to deal with some of these violent stray dogs and they don’t show up.

    Eventually you’ll learn that matters will have to be taken into your own hands if you want anything done.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Why is it that all of these dog reports are the responsibility of the police, where are the animal welfare officers and animal control they should be the ones attending to there reports

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Everyone knows of the self proclaimed socialite in Newlands who breeds and sells vicious breeds of dogs around Cayman right from her own home. No licence, no proper facility and making money off it with no recourse. The dogs rush at kids in the neighbourhood and nothing is being done about it. What is the point of having laws when no one enforces them.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, we don’t all know who this is. Please name and shame.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What’s the point of knowing if you don’t report it? (Everyone doesn’t know. I have no idea who this reputed person is. Only when you say ‘I reported it’ can you take umbrage at non-enforcement.)

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    • Anonymous says:

      Just to clarify, there’s no such thing as a “vicious breed of dogs” – Be realistic. A dog who is shown compassion and love will in return, show the same love and compassion back. However it most definitely is awful that some of the dogs are rushing at kids, but like they said – you should report it. I live in newlands and have never heard of this.

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  5. Jupiter Jack says:

    Rufus doesnt know any better being on a chicken bone diet.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Like most countries it will take the death of a child for the Government to spring into action. And oh yes that child will have to be one of their own family members. No one else matters, whether you are Caymanian or an expat.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Cayman needs to adopt UK law when it comes to stray dogs. The local authority (Public Works Dept.) has a Dog Pound and employs wardens to pick up any stray dog that is not on a leash or roaming the roads. These dogs are kennelled for just 7 days and rehomed if not claimed. If claimed, there is a £60 release fee plus £13 per day plus any veterinary bills. This can be very expensive, thus keeping the dogs off the road.

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    • Anon says:

      That would work if the majority of dog owners on island actually cared about their dogs. They are a status symbol or a guard dog for most people sadly. You think with these fees they will collect the dog? The owners that care wouldn’t let them run free and wild anyway.

      • Anonymous says:

        I have to agree with you sadly. It was just wishful thinking on my part 8.05pm that there actually are animal lovers that really do care. Thankfully, Cayman has these caring majority of people it’s just the disgraceful cruel excuse for human beings is the problem. Unfortunately, these poor animals have been running wild in packs, scavaging for food, dehydrating in the intense heat and have become vicious as a result. It would be kinder to round them up and humanely euthenise them. They would not be suitable to rehome with families. Such a shame!

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    • Anonymous says:

      These dogs are not car proof.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This already exists, the DOA pick up dogs and you have to pay to get them back….if you don’t they are euthanized.

      • Anonymous says:

        Good! glad to hear such a service exists 11.33am but if this is so, why on earth are there still so many dangerous packs of dogs still wondering the roads?

  8. Anonymous says:

    The Governement needs to round the dogs up and humanely euthanize then. They are a public safety threat. This is the only solution that will work. Educating and fining owners is not effectively going to solve the issue.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    What’s there to worry about, this has been happening for years, its normal and for the most part accepted. The Authorities are more interested in a bandaid solution; dealing with irate people who poison dogs. I don’t condone this behavior but well in favour of the pet owner serving jail time if their pet harms anyone.

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    • realistic says:

      You are going to need one of these vicious dog in your yard pretty soon to protect you from home invasions

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Illegal dogs everywhere!!!

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  11. New-Resident says:

    In the 7 months I have been here I have seen packs of dogs in all areas, some are very aggressive and clearly abused and beaten. The amount of out of control dogs is very dangerous and makes these islands look very third world at times tourists do see this.My car has been chased not for fun for the dogs one bit the tyre and on walkers road filling up with gasI had to stay inside as the dog was aggressive, turns out the owner was feeding it cannabis and bullied it, it was scared of its own shadow. I see people jogging in the morning with sticks to keep dogs away! This isn’t normal, too many pit bull types that are prone to have moments that can kill a child. From what I see people just leave them outside as a guard dog training them to be aggressive. My old housemate was a vet some of the story’s I was told were horrendous even if your not an animal lover. Solution big fines and you loose the dog no exceptions. From my experiences owners dont use leads either leading to me regularly doing emergency stops in the road or witnessing a dog fight as it’s owner just doesn’t care or has a chip on his shoulder a power thing. Any dangerous uncontrollable dog should be destroyed before a minor is injured or worse, the longer this is ignored the worse it will get.

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  12. NO Nonsense!!! says:

    It truly appears as though certain members of the public do not believe that the law applies to them. It is very irritating and disheartening of the level of disregard for the law in general. Dogs are also to be kept on a leash at the beach but any given weekend or weekday you can visit the beach and dogs are just left to run freely, being a nuisance to others and posed with the threat of being bitten. The law has to be enforced. No more warnings!!! Send a clear message!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      They passed a law years and years ago about banned dogs, no cropping, no docking, no breeding of banned dogs, ie pit bulls, dogs should be kept in a proper fenced or chained area with adequate shade and water. Yet they are breeding, they aren’t containing their dogs, vets are cropping and docking and NEVER reporting that they are taking care of banned dogs also their puppies. Animal abuse has been going on for a long long time and Brian has been part of the Agriculture and non of them has ever done a DAMN THING ABOUT IT!! Animals in the Cayman Islands have no right whatsoever. This also includes, cows, horses. Laws were put in place, YET NEVER carried out. That is the problem. Just like Crime, it was here and no one did anything about it when it could have been controlled!!!! Tint cars, loud music coming from cars. The laws passed are endless yet nothing is done about it!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Responsible dog owners who let their dogs run free on the beach generally are letting their behaved dogs run around. Only an idiot would let a dog who bites, off the leash. Sadly, there are plenty of those idiots who don’t care about their dogs or the public. Those are the ones we should be looking at. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

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      • Anarchy For The CI! says:

        You either have laws or you dont. Either option works for me.

      • Anonymous says:

        Some of these dogs do not have owners! So yes, there are some bad dogs also. And it’ll be too late if it gets a hold of a child.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Like so many unenforced bureaucratic non-necessities in Cayman, the DoA was genuinely amazed when we showed up to register and license our chipped pets. Few residents bother, it would seem.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Want to reduce the numbers? Tell us how many have been charged. (Or referred tot eh DPP, or whatever the proper term is these days.)

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep, that’s what the Govt. is good at…making up new acronyms for new units/sections of new and old departments and new amendments to new and old laws. Enforcement…NO!

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