The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Humane Society president Kim Aranha spoke out over the state of animal rights in the Bahamas after a number of dogs were discovered dumped in a derelict water reserve. Mrs Aranha said she has written to key persons in all three political parties to tell them how severe animal abuse and neglect have become, and how urgently the BHS needs support. So far, no one has answered. Yesterday, Mrs Aranha asked what sort of people would abandon innocent animals to die, when a humane alternative is available. "How easy it would be to just bring the animals to the Humane Society? We don't make you pay, there is no need to throw them away," she said. "What kind of monster would do that - put the animals where you believe they will starve to death? How can you truly love anything else and do something like that?" Mrs Aranha asked. On Monday, a concerned Garden Hill Estates resident called The Tribune to report that dogs were being abandoned in what look like three huge pools. She can see the pools from her balcony, and said they are filled with dirty water, garbage, and mangroves. She and her husband have fought through brush and animal remains to rescue dogs left to starve and die on several occasions before. "Many nights I am laying in bed and I can hear the dogs and puppies cry because they cannot get out. These people just dump them there and leave. "Just last week, we rescued some puppies. "I've also seen children while I am on the balcony of my house hailing me as they play down there. Its obvious to see it is not safe," the woman said. BHS Animal Cruelty Inspector Valentino Armaly said the woman has called him more than 10 times to come and rescue dogs. Those calls have led to the rescue of four adult dogs and eight puppies. "A few of them, I believe, were once well taken care of because we found that after we took them in, they had been neutered," he said as he rescued the latest round of abandoned puppies on Monday.