Out & About with RSPCA Inspector Wayne Norville
Stretch feet without you.
PUTS YOUR DOG’S LIFE IN PERIL! “Morning Mr. Norville, come quick, come quick my dog just run in the yard and collapsed, he trembling bad, kicking and lots of froth coming from he mout!” These were the words of a woman after she let her dog out for a ‘stretchfoot.’ When I arrived at the address she gave me, the dog was flat out barely breathing, with cuts and bruises from the kicking and paddling. Its claws were bleeding, it had bitten its tongue and that too was bleeding - it was poison alright. I quickly snatched the dog up, put it in the van and headed for the RSPCA Clinic. This was one of the many calls I receive from dog owners who rather than put a leash on their dogs and take them for a walk, instead let them out of their yards to go and exercise on their own without any supervision. Would you let your two-year-old child run off on its own without any supervision? No, you would not, so why allow your dog to do it? A dog away from its owner is in the path of unknown danger. Your dog is not accustomed to being on the street, it’s not street wise so it can easily be struck by a car. There’s also the hidden danger of open wells, or slug bait put 32 | ANIMAL TALK | ISSUE 4
down by an avid gardener who saw one or two slugs in their garden. Your dog not knowing what it is, then goes and ingest the bait and unless treated, quickly can die.
Maybe your dog picks up the scent of a bitch in heat. He then ends up in a pack of other males with only one thing on their minds – mating! Every one of those dogs with their hormones raging wants to be the one to mate with that bitch. Your dog too will immediately forget everything about you and home. His hormones are raging so he gets into the melee, not knowing how to fight. He‘s beaten badly and now has lacerations about his body, ears torn, punctures on his feet, but he is still not going home. This goes on for days and he is not eating and very seldom drinking clean water. He’s getting weaker and weaker, until one day one of your neighbour calls you and asked you if this is the dog you were looking for two weeks ago. Stretched out dead, a mere skeleton of what your dog used to look like.
HEED MY WORDS! The next time you want your dog to “get a stretch foot” put a leash on it and take it for a walk. This way both you and your dog can have a healthy, safe, bonding walk together.
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MY PETS
IMPORTANT:
Your dog should be neutered and licensed. It is illegal in Barbados for dogs to be wandering without their owner or handlers. Things to be aware of: • Road fatality • Dog fights • Being poisoned • Your dog biting someone • Your dog becoming lost or stolen
By Ryan Inniss,
founder of the Marizayra’s Sanctuary, St. Phillip
I tend not to use the term “pet” because they’re more like my teammates! There’s no anger, disappointment or judgement when I’m in their company. That’s why I love them.
USEFUL NUMBERS VETS Animal Care Clinic Massiah Street, St John Boyce, Dr. Shelly A. Mullins, St. Peter Central Veterinary Clinic Lower Estate Complex, St George Clarke, Dr. Katherine Mt Standfast, St James Content Animal Clinic Content Plantation, St. Thomas Eastern Veterinary Clinic Sunbury, St Phillip Griffith, Dr. Derek L. V. Ashgrove Strathclyde Cres Trinity Animal Clinic Woodbourne, St Phillip Maitland, Dr. Rosina Carter’s Gap, Christ Church Northern Veterinary Clinic Speightown, St Peter Total Loving Care Brittons Hill Main Rd, St Michael Tull, Dr. Nicole Ealing Grove, Christ Church The Veterinary Clinic Graeme Hall Pk, Christ Church
423-1098 230-4222 436-3530 262-9838 438 7099 423-0493 426-4884 420-7894 428-2897 233-8681 427-3135 231-2546 437-0478
HORSE DENTIST Emily Kinch
233-4012
ANIMAL SHELTERS Barbados Sea Turtle Project HORSE Charity Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary RSPCA RSPCA Emergency The Ark
230-0142 422-0400 262 4505 426-3077 426-3962 435-4108
BOARDING KENNELS By Carolinna Lima I was always an animal advocate. Since my childhood, I would bring home dogs and cats that I found roaming on the streets, and I would love and care for them with the help of my parents. Many of these rescue dogs are so close to being broken, and I can’t explain the joy I feel when they heal, play, trust and wag their tail after probably a very long time. It’s incredible how they can still trust us and become the best life companion. And since I can’t have them all, I foster! I like to think that if we all do a bit of good, we can make a big difference. Have you ever tried to foster? I can guarantee, most of the time they help us more than we help them.
Paws R Us RSPCA Woodbourne
836-1668 426-3077 420-1104
SPAY/NEUTERING OF DOGS K9 Friends Barbados
248 1552
PET TRANSPORTATION Pet Transportation
243-0420
ANIMAL CONTROL UNIT Animal Control Unit
536-3161 / 536-3162
ISSUE 4 | ANIMAL TALK | 33
