Take responsibility! Jamaica needs more animal shelters, but owners must step up for stray livestock, says vet director

Jamaica urgently requires more animal shelters, but the responsibility for stray and injured livestock ultimately lies with their owners, according to Dr. Sophia Ramlal, director of the country's veterinary services. Her statement comes after a recent incident involving a cow, affectionately nicknamed Moo Moo by locals, which was struck by a vehicle and left injured by the roadside in Spanish Town for several days. No owner has yet claimed the animal.

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Jamaica needs more animal shelters, but livestock owners must stop abandoning their roaming, injured animals for the Government to fix.

Dr. Ramlal highlighted that while such cases are not frequent, they are a significant concern due to the risks stray animals pose to motorists and the public. She referenced the Cruelty to Animals Act and the Keeping of Animals Act, which govern animal welfare and proper care. However, she stressed the need for more facilities to manage stray and ownerless animals, particularly in situations where owners are unwilling to come forward, as seen with Moo Moo.

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The Cruelty to Animals Act would address basic welfare issues for animals, the Keeping of Animals Act as well, which speaks to how animals are supposed to be kept and basic things should be provided to them, et cetera. However, there is a need for more pounds in Jamaica.

Organizations like the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) are commended for their efforts, but Dr. Ramlal noted they operate with limited infrastructure, often undertaking national duties. The government is actively addressing public safety risks, crop destruction, and traffic hazards caused by roaming livestock. The Clarendon Municipal Corporation recently established a new 20-acre holding facility and equipped transport trucks for managing stray animals.

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I want to say, it is usually an instance where we have animals that are ownerless, or owners are unwilling to come forward and claim the animals, as is the case with this cow [Moo Moo] I’m addressing.

Despite these governmental efforts, Dr. Ramlal insisted that the burden should not fall solely on the state. Owners must be held accountable, especially when they can be identified or are simply unwilling to claim responsibility for their animals. The case of Moo Moo, where state agencies intervened for euthanasia and carcass disposal, exemplifies the need for a more robust system involving owner accountability.

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The Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) does really fantastic work, but they are probably, along with a couple of other entities, they are tasked with doing almost national duties without necessarily the infrastructure, so we need to be looking at more shelters, shelters even that work during disasters.