Dogs poisoned in West Bay
(CNS): The police have fallen short of stating that they are investigating the recent poisoning of at least five dogs in West Bay and more in other districts, but they have said they are aware of the reports that have circulated recently on social media. Officers said they are “monitoring the situation” and seeking “to deter any criminal activity and offer advice to pet owners, alongside our colleagues at the Department of Agriculture”.
Rachel Yates of West Bay watched two of her three dogs die last week after they were poisoned in her own fenced yard in Town Hall Road.
It is understood that several other dogs have also fallen victim to what appears to be deliberate poisoning, including Hershey, a labradoodle who became ill and was euthanasia last week after he ate what his owner believed was some sort of meat he came across on the roadside as they walked along Northwest Point Road. Although she pulled him away from it, he had already ingested a fatal amount.
In 2015 the herbicide paraquat, which had been the chemical behind historic poisoning, was banned but it is not yet clear what is being used in this latest spate. Hershey’s owner was able to take a sample of what she believes her dog had ingested to the vets who treated her dog before he died, which could help to identify what is now being used to kill people’s pets.
While the police are asking people with information to come forward, they said they had received only one formal report from the Yates family.
Even though dog poisoning in the Cayman Islands is a common occurrence, CNS has been unable to find any indication that there has ever been a successful prosecution of such a crime.
It is difficult for people to take the animal control laws seriously when our leaders are setting a bad example. In the neighbourhood in question in West Bay there are elected officials as well as a police office that do not properly control their animals. No matter how well behaved you claim your pet is, you are still breaking the law if you do not properly contain your animal. I guess some people are above the law.
what do you expect from caymankind animal welfare???
animal welfare is an alien concept to locals…
just look at the turtle farm.
Dispicable! Hope the heartless bastards get caught! Word is that it could be “potential” burglars targeting enclosed dogs now, so they can target the residences during Christmas! Could be!
If you are one to care about the welfare of animals, you are living on the wrong island with the wrong culture. Laws are not enforced here. Criminals are in charge and true honor is discouraged. Live with it or live somewhere else. Best you can do.
The police need to ticket people that allow their dogs to be on the street. I know about the police going to a person 19 times about their dogs on the street and never a charge.
Dogs chasing people etc We have the laws in place, but the cops are lazy.
Animals need better protection on this island.
Cops need to do some work and stop being lazy.
try reading the next time.. this is a story of enclosed pets being poisoned.
Right. I am sure
Yes I complained numerous times as I walked my dogs and a pit bull mix came running very time to me and my dogs. This normal happens at night, so I am terrified. I tried to inform the ignorant owner of the animal law, but she claims that even though she knows her dog won’t listen she continues to allow him to run free with no lease or supervision outside and around the neighbourhood. After reporting to the police,I was appalled to learn that the police officer was even more ignorant. The officer told her that it was okay to have her dog in her property. She has no fence and the dog is not restraint in any way. With police officers like this there is no hope. Oh I also left a voicemail for Animal Control, as the dog was weaving in and out of traffic and nearly got run over with cars having to stop suddenly as they couldn’t see the dog in the dark until it was right in front of their car. This was animal endangerment. To date I have not heard back.
Police and Department of Agriculture/Animal Control are NOT the answers for any animal owner that need help!!!!!
You have that right i have gone home crying more than once because i was chased or have had stray dogs coming after me and im deadly scared of dogs i dont believe in hurting animals but i believe if you have a dog keep him in your yard or in your house not scaring people half to death and yes the people that are in charge of this should be doing there job
Yes. I have meet many irresponsible homeowners. And trying to talk to them nicely will achieve nothing. They have never changed their behaviour. And police nor DOE will do anything to enforce any law.
Have they found the evil who sodomized ponies?
Do not let your dogs sniff or eat anything while walking them.
Whats wrong with you?There is no,I mean NO excuse,for a human to poison any animal.The sad and dangerous thing is that the poison can kill innocient people.what example are you setting for your self/children and others..
Check if chemicals are used at DoEH. If so, police should investigate…. I suspect a DoEH worker that lives near me… Cant keep a dog because they always end up poisoned
Please go to the police with your suspicions. You can call anonymously if you prefer. Then you can help them draw up a short list of people to be considered for this crime. Unless people tell what they know or suspect, our police have a hard time cracking cases like this.
exactly. what does an Anonymous comment on cns do.
In the years since it was banned, I’ve seen construction contractor pickup trucks with recently spent Paraquat bags blowing around their tailgates. Not even trying to hide or be subtle about their using of warehoused contraband, years after it was made illegal. Has anyone in Cayman been arrested/charged/convicted since the ban?
Some in the political fraternity and construction industry probably know exactly who these resourceful look-the-other-way people are. Let’s hope it’s not a long list. Post Beirut explosion, what agency has been tasked to inspect and certify the safety of private chemical depots and inventories, and ensure banned chemicals are destroyed?
Smart money would wager these are the same, seemingly-immune, pre-planning approval specialists that, for a fee (or to re-pay a favor), will clear your mangrove buffer, or eradicate troublesome forest, excavate a canal, or lay stolen aggregate. They’ll even do it at night.
Welcome to the Cayman Islands.
keep your dogs inside and if they go outside stay with them and keep them leashes – don’t let them eat scraps of meat or anything you didn’t give them ! it’s your responsibility to keep your dog safe – if they aren’t running around loose they can’t be poisoned …
Looking for safer ecological alternatives, we had asked DoA for a list of their “agricultural” chemicals, it went up the chain, and was flatly refused. There are nasty contractors with stockpiles of paraquat, and equally noxious legal alternatives like roundup, and other herbicides used for clearing weeds and vegetation – esp prior to construction. Those are your lead suspects RCIPS.
Not saying this is the situation here, but pet owners need to be aware of the danger that industrial chemicals pose, both past and present. Do not let your dogs off their leads ($2500 fine in the Cayman Islands anyway), and don’t walk them on land suspiciously devoid of plant-life.
The runoff (even from RoundUp) is also toxic to our aquatic ecology and should not be used anywhere near canals or water tributaries. The DoE should be involved with supervising and fining off-label use and reckless application. DoE could probably suggest a safety and precautions course for all DoA licensed handlers of these dangerous chemicals. Many $6/hr labourers aren’t even given masks or gloves, and they are spraying grass and walkways right beside canals.
that is horrible ! I’ve always wanted to visit the Caymans … think I’ll wait … hate the destruction of such a beautiful place and the ecological nightmare the tourists bring
This happens every few years and it is absolutely awful. Makes me very sad that anyone would do this to an animal.
and always around Christmas time as well
Go and have several seats.
Say what?
you sound dumb
I feel sorry for those responsible dog owners whose beloved pets have succumbed to the effects of the poisoning.
But as an avid runner I would say (and this is where the thumbs down will come) there are too many either stray, wild or neglected dogs that run wild and try and attack people- those dangerous animals I’m afraid to say deserve this.
I’m not sure any animal ever deserves this. When it comes to the strays we should look at the causes of the problem such as irresponsible owners who fail to have their pets spayed or neutered or those who decide they can’t cope and let their animals run wild. These dogs don’t chose to be on the streets – humans are usually to blame and suggesting an innocent animal deserves a painful death is really not a solution to the problem.
While I fully empathise with your position, it is in fact the owners of these pets who need to be held responsible, not the actual pets.
There are good Laws here, but they have never all been enacted, so irresponsible pet owners can’t actually be held accountable, as said Laws can’t actually be laid down in court. It’s a ridiculous situation.
There is a link between animal welfare and human welfare. In so many homes where animals need help, the humans also desperately need help, but the powers that be are blind to these issues.
There are many animal charities who do amazing work here, and would be happy to work with the Agriculture Department to resolve the issues that we all see, but there is zero support from the Agriculture Department on any issues.
It seems they would rather see pets poisoned than take any meaningful actions to solve the issues surrounding animal welfare. Connect the dots folks…
The dogs deserve it?? You cannot be serious.
No. The negligent owners deserve it not the animals.
Yeah buddy, blame the animals, not the idiots who enable this to happen. Dickheads who won’t keep their dogs under control. Those that refuse to fix their dogs. Those who allow their dogs to roam. Those are the true cretins here, along with the worthless POS dropping poison indiscriminately.
I feel sorry for those responsible road runners whose beloved health or life have succumbed to the effects of being hit by a car.
But as a avid dog lover I would say (and this is where the thumbs up will come) there are too many either bad, side-by-side or stupid runners that run wild and try and hog the roads, listen people- those dangerous runners I’m afraid to say deserve being hit by a car.
this is a story on poisoned enclosed pets.. take ur comments else where
You obviously missed the VERY OBVIOUS sarcasm!
The animals do not deserve this. An unbelievably callous attitude. We have adequate laws about dog control that simply need enforcing and we need a better dog round up process. This requires responsible people not dead dogs!
take a min, breathe in with your iron runner lungs and try reading for once.. this is a story on poisoned dogs who were in their yard. not sure what that as to do with strays who are neglected and tossed aside.
but id be in the wrong if i said you deserve to be poisoned tho yeah? or if i say you need to just watch where you run as they have a right to place too.. or that you should go home or to a gym as you have options and they do not… damn loser.
You must be a very disgusting human being to say something like that.
Poisoned ? Animals deserved to be poisoned ?? HMM Maybe you are a culprit … maybe you should listen to a dog cry in pain from being poisoned … of course if you feel that way perhaps it wouldn’t bother you ?