Once again, the plight of security animals’ and the condition in which they are kept has been brought into question. The incident, which place along the Solomon Hochoy Highway was called into the T.T.S.P.C.A., it is as follows:

A pick-up vehicle carrying guard dogs in an open tray (it should be noted that the police will pull aside truck drivers with people sitting in an open tray) proceeded to swerve in and out of traffic, the vehicle, which contained four dogs, balancing in the back of the van, suddenly pulled in-front of a truck. The result; one of the dogs was thrown out of the moving vehicle, and, into on-coming traffic. Unable to stop, the following truck; ran over the animal, it died. The driver, and the other occupants of the pick-up, however; just kept on going. Only after they were pulled aside by drivers that saw the death of the dog, were they even aware that one had fallen out. His remarks at being told about the tragic way in which the dog had died “"Well de dog dead anyway, le-we go nah" (It should be said that the firms’ telephone number was on the back, so the witness reported the incident, needless to say her call was not met with gratitude).

Note: this morning the firm guilty of the incident, was seen again; transporting dogs in exactly the same way – they learnt absolutely nothing – I have attached a photo.

The above story about the lack of care given to security dogs is just one of many we receive on a regular basis, we have had numerous emails about the transporting of security dogs and the disregard for their safety, dogs that work the Carnival fetes stuffed into car trunks, their mouths taped shut to transport them. And, recently a case of a dog working for a firm hired to guard Woodford Square transported in the trunk, however, unfortunately for this poor creature, it was too late; the dog died of heat stroke.

Security dogs suffer on a daily basis (I should point out that we have dealt with a few good companies, however, this has proven to be the exception rather than the rule). They receive the minimum amount of food needed, little to NO veterinary care (we have seen dogs whose ears have been cropped/cut with scissors – not by a vet – to make them look fierce), the conditions in which they are kept can be appalling, small cages (in some cases the only light they get is when they are working), tethered to a post, or held on a leash for long hours.

Finally, when the firm has no use for them, they are dumped on the road or euthanized (this generally happens if they become sick or old and “cannot earn their keep). Security firms make a substantial profit off the backs of these dogs, yet they are viewed of as property, not the living breathing animals that they are.

The T.T.S.P.C.A. is at present working with the Animal Welfare Network and the relevant bodies to change the laws regarding the treatment of animals in T&T, yet with limited resources (we receive no Government funding) and manpower, we must ask ourselves how many more stories of ill-treatment and death will we hear about before a change can be made.

It is time for the Government to start cracking down on all of these firms that keep popping up (with the rise in crime, this business is proving to be a lucrative one, for the owners, not the animals).

Once again we plead with the public that work in areas where security dogs are hired to make their voices heard, write, speak, and shout if you have to! Insist that the company ONLY hire firms with dogs in good condition and companies with secure vehicles and travel kennels. TAKE A STAND!