CIG and Dart enable evacuees to bring pets

| 20/09/2017 | 95 Comments

(CNS): People evacuating from British Overseas Territories who want to bring their pet dogs and cats can do so even if the animals do not meet the current import conditions, thanks to emergency provisions approved by Cabinet and the generosity of Dart Real Estate, which has provided a facility to house them at no charge to government. No pets have been relocated to the Cayman Islands from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands or the Turks and Caicos Islands since the passage of Hurricane Irma, Director of Agriculture Adrian Estwick told CNS Monday.

However, in anticipation of such requests, Ministry of Education, Youth and Agriculture presented Cabinet with a proposal about providing temporary shelter to undocumented pets brought by evacuees from hurricane stricken BOTs. (See related story here)

Now that this has been approved, the Department of Agriculture (DoA) has commissioned a temporary quarantine facility for dogs and cats that do not meet the current import conditions, which are: permanent identification with a microchip, current rabies vaccination, current rabies antibody titre test to check for protective antibodies against rabies, and treatment against internal and external parasites (ticks and tapeworms).

According to the ministry, Dart Real Estate has provided the facility to house the animals at no charge to government in an effort to assist hurricane evacuees during this challenging time. This facility, the location of which remains undisclosed for safetly reason, has a full perimeter security fence and an internal fenced area that would be suitable for exercising the animals. A section of the building is air-conditioned and partitioned and would be suitable for housing the animals.

The DoA said that those animals that fully meet current import requirements can be released immediately. Pets that only require tick and tapeworm treatment can be treated and released after 24 hours.

For pets with proof of current rabies vaccination but no rabies titre test, the DoA will perform the tests and release the animals on receiving successful results. The time the animals must spend in quarantine is results-based with a minimum expected period being 14 days, the DoA said.

Pets with no proof of rabies vaccination will be vaccinated and spend a minimum of 44 days in quarantine. Thirty days after the vaccination, the DoA will perform the rabies titre test and release the animals on receiving successful results.

Dogs classified as prohibited breeds under the current Animals Law and Regulations, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated for rabies or not, will have to remain in quarantine until they are exported.

Animals belonging to BOT evacuees which have entered the quarantine directly via non-BOT countries will be assessed in the same way but the duration of quarantine will be a minimum of 90 days from the date of the blood draw which resulted in a successful titre result.

As a goodwill gesture, the Cayman Islands Government will be responsible for the daily maintenance costs of running the quarantine facility, such as feeding, walking and cleaning the animals, and providing 24-hour security. The pet owners will be financially responsible for all procedures required for their animal to qualify for quarantine and the provision of routine preventative medications, such as heartworm prevention, while in quarantine.

The Ministry and Department of Agriculture thanjs Dart Real Estate for the quick response in providing a quarantine facility free of charge and the various animal welfare organisations and individuals that have assisted with donations or loans of supplies needed for the facility.

For general information on the quarantine facility, please contact Brian Crichlow, Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture at brian.crichlow@gov.ky or (345) 947-3090.

Anyone wanting to import pets can request the paperwork by emailing ci.agriculturevs@gov.ky.

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Comments (95)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    First time a have nothing bad to say about Dart et al.

  2. Bracka 56 says:

    We open our homes and hearts to the victims of all suffering and victimized by Irma and all other storms. We applaud and support our leader Hon. Juliana OConnor Conolly in her decisions to help our Caribbean neighbors.

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  3. Sharkey says:

    I wonder if these animals were quarantined like every other animal brought into the Islands ? Butbig$**kingdeal ,

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Its nice that all of this is being done to help people in need. I know a very bright young person who also deserves and needs some help and there are others in similar situations. The young person has a full bachelor’s degree from a highly reputable overseas university and after doing a very successful internship with Dart was informed “you did great, sorry we don’t have budget to hire you at this time”. Excuses from other companies were similarly hollow, ” we are fully staffed up (but will continue to need more work permits)” or “we only hire persons with more experience than you (and will continue to need more work permits)”.

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  5. Animaliberator says:

    Oh sure, animals don’t count do they? According to some anyway. Humans are messing up this planet and animals usually pay the price in whatever form or way, not just hurricanes.
    I would be very careful when you say “privileged people”. Next time something happens here, don’t be surprised if indeed nobody shows up to assist in whatever way from other countries with an attitude like this.
    Great work by Dart and the Government!!

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  6. Anonymous says:

    So are these people from these islands, or are they expat workers who were working in those islands?! I’m willing to bet that if they are expat workers….they here to stay.

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  7. Unison says:

    Cats and Dogs ??? What about people ?!!

    It seems this is how typical rich folk are out of touch with reality when it comes to priority! Spend their zillions on animals and self-interests. Common people are below pets ?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are you saying to hold people in quarantine?

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    • Anonymous says:

      what a stupid comment!!

      I’m happy to hear that people with pets are actually caring enough to want to bring them with them!!!!!!! Newsflash- that’s called BEING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER!!!!! THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING RICH OR POOR! HOW IGNORANT ARE YOU????????????????????? People who are compassionate and have a good conscious will want to bring their pets whenever they move, whether it be b/c of a natural disaster or relocating for work or well being- a pet is a family member! Your comment makes me so sick and pissed off!! Where do you get off insinuating that only rich people want to bring pets along? SMH! You’re probably the one who lets dogs & cats go un-neutered and lets them procreate any which way from Sunday, left to fend for themselves in the streets! Shameful!

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are soooo right! Caymanians could learn a thing or 2 by this example of responsible pet ownership. But let’s face it, as soon as they see the word DART, the whole thing becomes about them and their hate for expats. Blah blah blah….

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        • Anonymous says:

          Please stop generalizing as if Caymanians don’t know how to care for our animals.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Take a drive and count the number of animals tied up in yards and driveways or cages. The helpless ones that are full of fleas and mange and dying from heartworm. Or the boys who refuse to get jobs so they breed and sell mutts and lie about the shots and then they die after they have been sold because they were taken from their mum too soon or they didnt get any shots and died of parvo. How about my neighbours putting out poison to kill their neighbours dogs? Or the ones that get dumped because someone had a baby. I could go on. But i really dont need to. Expats are generalised on every level, every day by Caymanians. Get over it.

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            • Anonymous says:

              You do realize a huge part of the problem at the humane society are expats taking dogs from there and returning them once they leave the island.

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      • Unison says:

        Well off Folk = Priorities Mixed up

        True, True, so True ???

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Glad to see this is in place. I was in Miami airport on the eve of Irma with passengers that were trying to escape the storm to the Cayman Islands with their beloved dog. They had to put their dog in a taxi to a kennel and hope for the best as they were told there was no quarantine option in the Cayman Islands and their pet stood to have been destroyed on arrival by DoA. CAL wouldn’t even check them in.

    It would be great if these humane corporate gestures extended into a more permanent facility for use during our own storms when the Humane Society routinely gets flooded out. CI Humane Society has been asking for this help for decades. Maybe this secret pet sanctuary would be a perfect option?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    In Cayman, no good deed goes unpunished.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    I can’t comprehend how some people can be SO heartless in such tragic circumstances as these.

    Where is the Cayman Kindness? Do these people have any heart?

    The Cayman Islands went through these same circumstances with hurricanes Ivan & Paloma and people reached out to help us.

    It could have been our islands that were hit by these monstrous hurricanes, thank God we were spared.

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  11. MM says:

    Oh, another question… which airline’s cargo space will the “pets” be brought in on? Will they be “quarantined” there as well?

    There are A LOT of logistics to making a decision like this, much more to it than providing a gated building… if these pet owners loved their animals so much their shots would be up to date… now we have to jeopardize our own country playing hero….

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    • Anonymous says:

      What is your point regarding the airline’s cargo space? Pets and other animals are allowed to fly on airlines into London Heathrow all the time regardless of whether they have tested negative for rabies or not. If the owner doesn’t have the correct paperwork to show they are rabies free then they are put into quarantine. Kinda sounds like what they are going to do in Cayman for these people doesn’t it? #caymankind #petsarefamilytoo #ilovemycats #youpeoplesuck #noteveryoneareassholes

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  12. MM says:

    So…. big question here.

    Who will be staffing this facility filled with “undocumented pets”…. ?

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Yes Dart needs to make everyone feel warm and cozy so their next deal wont feel so bad…consider this lubrication

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Agriculture Department and Ministry are useless. We can’t solve our own iguana and wild chicken pest problems but we can suddenly make pets from other territories our issue.

    Charity begins at home.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Welcome to the Cayman Islands. Where we dont help our own, but are quick to help others. #caymankind

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    • anon says:

      Only in the nasty and Brutish CNS comments section could someone find something to whinge about in relation to this story of human kindness and decency. Seriously go get some help…

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Thank you CIG and Dart, for reaching out to help the people and their pets in this time of need.

    Some people’s pets are their family and they would not want to leave them behind.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    As if there isn’t already enough dog owners on island who can’t be bothered to pickup their pets waste or just dump it in someones bin.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Did you even read the article? Or you just want to moan about trash in your trash bin? You should get a dog….

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, I did read the article thanks, including the part about pets being released and if you want to come and pick out all the bags of dog turds from our bins which the refuge collectors don’t take, you’re very much welcome.
        I’ll pass on getting a dog, already enough owners who leave them locked up inside all day barking their heads off, then take them for a 5 minute walk in the evening to crap on the nearest patch of grass.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Lol! I’ll start picking up my dog crap when locals start picking up their KFC wrappers, beer bottles and used condoms.

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          • Anonymous says:

            As a local thank you for enlightening me on proper moral equivalency. I had not previously realized that two wrongs make a right.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Craziness…only for the rich!!

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    • Unison says:

      And the “well-of” who are not hit by reality to see people should be before animals.

      And this is the reason why your comment is rated low at this time ?

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      • Anonymous says:

        @OP: Comment should end with “…only for the expats” – you could’ve gotten more downvotes from the online emotional scanners.

      • Anonymous says:

        you’re an idiot- seriously! Pets are family, full stop! They don’t deserve to be left behind.

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  19. annonymous says:

    what a pile of foolishness. don’t we have enough to cope with already. do we know that these animals are healthy? or is this just another avenue to bring in disease?

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    • Jotnar says:

      Do try reading the article, which goes into some length on the precautions to ensure that the animals are healthy and safe before being released from quarantine.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This is so wrong. What happens when a new disease gets spread from one of these imported animals. So many people here are struggling yet government bends over backwards to help out these privileged people. Just more of the ones who have it and the rest of us who dont. Guess most will be English as well.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You clearly don’t understand the meaning of “quarantine”… these animals will be kept in a facility to prevent the spread of diseases, pests, etc. and released only when they are seen as fit to be a part of society here. This is a great initiative. If we had to evacuate Cayman for whatever reason, I’m sure you’d want to be welcomed and accommodated wherever your heartless soul ended up.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    It’s ok. At least their not goat loving refugees.

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  21. I love animals?? says:

    Outstanding! Excellent news and thank you to DoA for their quick response and compassion and thank you to Dart Real Estate for your generosity and empathy.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Coded concerns and upheld privileges in the midst of a natural disaster.

    Coffee brewing Cayman. Stay woke.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Dog whistle racism coupled with an already clichéd call to prepare for racial based violence. A sad and hackneyed indictment of the modern life.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Interesting how you manage to find “whistle racism” in my post but fail to detect its coated and dripping presence in the actual news story.

        Lastly, your false claims of “racial based violence” within my post further illustrates your typical bias.

        I suggest you return to the la-la land from whence you came because you are clearly not equipped to function in a world not formed around your pathetic, fragile conditioning.

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        • Anonymous says:

          If you see looking after pets as a race issue then you are the one living outside the real world.

          • Anonymous says:

            I, lke most Caribbean people, place the welfare of ALL fellow human beings – regardless of race or background – leaps and bounds above any animal.

            Unfortunately, many from other cultures cannot say the same.

            Let me know if you require any of the many examples of historic disparities in this respect.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Is that why animals are treated like crap?

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              • Anonymous says:

                Why have “other” types of people been, and continue to be, treated worst that crap in your culture?

                Again, let me know if your require examples.
                There are many.

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            • Anonymous says:

              And you’re bragging about it? Weak.

              • Anonymous says:

                Yes I am. This is true humanity.

                Kissing a dog but hating the fact that your daughter brings home a man from “the wrong side” does not a humanitarian make.

            • Anonymous says:

              So you don’t care about animals at then. Hope you don’t have any.

              • Anonymous says:

                I do.

                However, I also place the welfare of a human stranger above that of my beloved pet.

                Do you?

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                • Anonymous says:

                  No I don’t. My beloved pets don’t have a say or a voice. They rely on me to ensure their safety and well being. It’s my responsibility to make sure they are loved and looked after properly. The stranger can make their own decisions and choices. If they make the wrong ones and suffer,that’s their problem.

                  • Anonymous says:

                    That was a rehtorical question.

                    Your culture has been cannibalistic, inhumane and parasitic from arrival on the global scene.

                    • Anonymous says:

                      How is that denial of your festering race based anger coming along after this post?

                    • Anonymous says:

                      What culture is that?

                    • Anonymous says:

                      Why would I be angry?

                      On the contrary, it is you and yours that are scared out of your wits and it manifests itself in every aspect of your society and modern politics.

                      Basic biology divides everything into dominant and recessive.

                      The simple harsh truth is; nature will have the final say.

                      (Google: “Heidi Klum Lou red Turks” for a quick example.)

                      Good luck!

            • Anonymous says:

              You claim that Caribbean people put human welfare first regardless of their race or back ground? Do you read the crazy racism on these CNS feeds? The most false statement I have read in any of these anonymous comments. You are fooling yourself. And no need for examples thanks. THe proof is in the pudding…

  23. F.A. Cetious says:

    Those bastards! How dare they do this without a referendum?

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Hello rabies!

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  25. Observer says:

    This is crazy allowing animals to come here with out the requisite shots. Real crazy and I bet that no island would do it for good ole Cayman

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