The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

DOG owners have one month to comply with licensing and animal control laws before authorities begin issuing fines of up to $1,000 in a tougher enforcement drive prompted by mounting concern over dog attacks and irresponsible ownership.

Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell yesterday announced a September 1-30 amnesty, warning that authorities intend to intensify enforcement once it expires. The move comes after a series of serious dog attacks, including the June mauling of 66-year-old Kemp Road resident Don Smith and a July attack on 70-year-old Jackie Livingston Thompson.

The issue drew international attention after nine-year-old American Beau Brattain suffered life-threatening injuries when several dogs attacked him in Bimini on July 28. Harrington Rolle, 34, was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison in connection with that attack. Pearline Jones, officer in charge of the Animal Control Unit, said dog attacks are the most common complaints the unit receives, with roughly three to four cases reported each day and sometimes more.

Mr Campbell said the ministry's new Mission Pawssible initiative is intended to shift the country's approach from responding to attacks after people have been hurt to preventing them.

During September, registration will be free. Officials said a dog licence ordinarily costs $11.

Owners are being encouraged to use the amnesty to license and properly identify their dogs, have them microchipped, secure their enclosures, keep vaccinations up to date and ensure animals are properly restrained.

They are also being urged to spay or neuter animals to reduce unwanted breeding and ensure their dogs do not become a danger or nuisance to others.

Once the amnesty ends, authorities are expected to begin issuing citations for breaches of animal protection and control laws in partnership with the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Fines under the Animal Protection and Control (Ticket) Regulations range from $50 to $1,000.

An unlicensed or roaming dog carries a $250 penalty, while owners can be fined $500 for permitting unintended breeding or having a dangerous dog out of control in a public place.

An unleashed or unconstrained dog in public can attract a $50 fine, while failure to microchip a dog carries a $100 penalty.

The highest ticket penalty, $1,000, applies to failing to obtain a required certificate of inspection for a guard dog facility or animal holding establishment.

Mr Campbell said penalties would apply for each breach.

“We are asking people to take this 30-day period very seriously,” he said, “get yourself in gear, understand the law, understand what it means to be in breach of the law, because we are no longer able to accommodate irresponsible ownership under any circumstance.”

The minister also warned that serious cases could result in prosecution and imprisonment, pointing to the Bimini case.

Rolle admitted charges of negligently causing grievous harm, permitting a dangerous dog to be at large and being the owner of a dangerous out-of-control dog that caused harm to a person in a public place.

“As you saw,” Mr Campbell said, “what happened in the case with the incident in Bimini, the individual in that circumstance faced a custodial sentence.”

Asked whether imprisonment would be limited to serious dog attacks or could apply to other offences, Mr Campbell said sentencing would be for the courts to determine.

Mr Campbell said the ministry and its partners want the strongest response possible after years of problems with irresponsible ownership.

“We want to ensure that the maximum force is put forward,” he said, “because for far too long we have been suffering from these issues.”

“If we can send a clear message to indicate that the time for tolerance has ceased, then so be it.”

Pearline Jones added: “Every call coming into animal control is addressed. Dog attacks we take real serious, and we're dispatched right away.”

She said the severity of attacks varies, but such complaints are treated as emergencies.

The Animal Control Unit operates from 8am to 4pm, while police control contacts Ms Jones to respond to incidents outside normal operating hours.

Ms Jones said licensing and microchipping are also important because they allow authorities to establish ownership of roaming dogs. Animal Control officers have microchip readers that can identify a registered owner, who can then be contacted to retrieve the animal.

The ministry is also seeking to expand the unit's resources, with Mr Campbell saying officials hope to acquire at least 20 additional dog traps.

The traps are expected to be deployed throughout New Providence, with some earmarked for the Family Islands.

Officials also expect to acquire hog or wild-boar traps and snake traps for the Family Islands, where Mr Campbell said nuisance-animal problems extend beyond stray dogs.

Mission Pawssible will also be used to collect data on areas where incidents are concentrated and the types of dogs most frequently involved.

Mr Campbell said that information could eventually inform decisions on whether breeding restrictions are needed for particular types of dogs.

“Once we have the necessary data,” he said, “then we can focus in perhaps maybe on whether it becomes the necessity for a moratorium on the breeding of particular types of dogs.”

He said the problem would persist “as long as these dogs are allowed to breed and multiply”.

Mission Pawssible is based on education, compliance and enforcement and is being undertaken in partnership with the Bahamas Humane Society, BAARK, the Veterinary Medical Association of The Bahamas and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The public education campaign will cover licensing, identification, microchipping, secure containment, leashing dogs in public, vaccination, spaying and neutering, responsible breeding and adequate food, water, shelter and care.

Officials and animal welfare groups are expected to take the campaign into schools, constituency offices, community spaces, veterinary clinics and pet and animal supply stores, while also distributing information through traditional and social media.

Mr Campbell urged members of the public to report suspected unlawful breeding operations and other improper practices.

He also raised concern about packs of roaming dogs for which no one accepts responsibility, saying residents may have information that could help authorities establish where the animals came from.

Addressing the problem, he said, will require cooperation among the government, animal welfare groups, veterinarians, police, businesses, communities and dog owners.