(CNS): Following recent reports from the Humane Society that it is inundated with unwanted pets as a result of so many expatriate workers leaving the Cayman Islands, one group of local volunteers says that people who are leaving can take their pets with them and don’t need to leave them behind. As the animal shelter is now at capacity, the Humane Society has said it is finding it very difficult to take on any more animals. Lesley Agostinelli, a volunteer with Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts, says it is not that difficult for people to take their animals with them when they leave. “We have the advantage here in Cayman of good veterinary support, so it is possible to arrange pet transport and to have animals micro-chipped so they can travel,” she said.
“We know of many people who have taken their local ‘rescue’ animals with them when they moved first to one country and then another, and the animals seems none the worse for the travel,” the animal volunteer stated. Agostinelli said that she and her fellow volunteers at CARE are hoping to persuade more people that it is not impossible to take their animals with them. “What we find strange is the decision to adopt one or more animals, give them a good life for a while and then shrug them off on departure,” she says adding that it is not necessary.
“Anyone not born here in Cayman has to presume that at some point they may be required to leave the Islands, whether planned or unplanned, for short or long term. As such, if you are considering adopting a pet, they must also be part of an evacuation or re-location strategy. It is simply not acceptable to consider that you are "doing the island a favour by adopting an animal" and giving it a good life while you have it,” she said.
Agostinelli pointed out that the notion that a short period of “a better life” for a pet and then being abandoned by its carers is not necessarily any kinder than leaving that abandoned animal to fend for itself in the first place. She said that pets are part of the family and wants to see more people making arrangements to take their adopted Cayman cats and dogs with them if they leave the islands.
According to the Cayman Animal Hospital, owners wanting to take pets to the UK will need to get their animals micro-chipped with an ISO chip. They will need two vaccines against rabies given 30 days apart, which are available at the Department of Agriculture. A minimum of 21 days later the pet needs to take the rabies Titer blood test at a vet’s office. It takes 14-21 days to get the results back.
If your pet passes the Titer test, it will be eligible to enter the UK under the pets travel scheme six months from the date the blood was taken. If pets are flown into the UK before the 6 month period has elapsed it will remain in quarantine until the full time period has passed. Travel to the UK requires a health certificate to be issued no more than 48 hours and no less than 24 hours prior to departure for England. The animal hospital also has information on take pets to other parts of Europe and North America.
“Owners have to be responsible. Cats and dogs live for an average of 15 years or more so that’s the length of commitment one should be prepared to give," Agostinelli said, adding that she hoped more people would begin to investigate the idea of exporting pets rather than leaving them with friends who don’t really want them, taking them to the Humane Society or, worse still, simply abandoning them when they leave.
People returning to Canada or the US with pets do not need to have them microchipped or have a rabies vaccination prior to their leaving the island.
I am appalled at the way animals are treated in Cayman. Horses and cows are tied out in the hot sun with no water and no shade, dogs are tied up their entire lives with little or no human interaction, or just left to roam the streets.
Unfortunately there is the mentality in Cayman that dogs and cats are just ‘animals’ and should be treated accordingly. However, I do believe with proper educational programs this mentality can be changed. Animals may not be ‘human’ however they are living creatures and deserve our respect.
Another issue that I think has led to the vast number of stray and abandoned dogs is that people do not train their animals. Therefore, their pets may uncontrollable and a nuisance to be around. Believe me, even a dog that only understands the most basic commands (sit, stay, come, heel) is amuch happier dog than a dog (even a house dog) that is allowed to do as it pleases. Dogs are naturally pack animals and need a leader. You as their owner have now become their leader and you have a responsibility to that animal.
Most dogs can learn basic commands very quickly, even older dogs. Even just spending time with your animal will help communication between you and your pet. And believe me, your pets will and do communicate with you, but you have to know how to ‘listen’.
Owning an animal is a huge responsibility. There’s little difference in having a child, it is a life that you are responsible for.
Unfortunately, while tying your child to a tree in the hot sun with no water or shade is certainly a criminal offence (to say the least) those same basic rights are not extended to our four legged friends. Do you not think that animals also feel the heat of the sun? That they feel hunger and thirst?
I have had two Cayman pedigree 😉 dogs that I have taken with me when I left Cayman. The first dog I had for over 13 years lived with me in Cayman to Texas, back to Cayman (she was my rock during and after Hurricane Ivan), back to Texas, to Tortola BVI (you have no idea how good it was to have her with me there), back to Texas and finally back to Cayman where she lived out her final days. My number one priority was if my dog could not come with me and live with me – then I didn’t go. The second dog was only going to be a foster while she underwent treatment for heartworm except I was made "redundant" two days after I brought her home. Funnily, at least to me, my dilemma was what to do with the dog rather than what I was going to do. In the end it was a no brainer – adopt and bring her to Texas.
I was completely naive the first time I left Cayman to go to a city where the only person I knew, even slightly, was a person I had met on the plane, where I had no job waiting, where I had no credit history, and where I had no idea where I was going to live. It was quite the learning experience, but while finding a place that allows larger breed dogs requires some effort – they are out there – lots of them.
This time I returned having a lot of experience of moving internationally with a large dog but this was my first time of moving when the job market was so uncertain (and the timing was not of my choosing). From the moment I became unemployed and had decided that I was keeping the newest dog I was on Craig’s List finding a sublet apartment that allowed larger dogs, with rent that due to what I had saved while living in Cayman I could afford to pay if it took me a year to find a new job, and was in a part of town that I could take public transportation to look for that new job and was convenient to everything else I would need to live (on a budget). I registered with temp agencies even before I left Cayman and was very lucky to find a good job (people are great, salary is nice – not what I was making in Cayman but not insulting, and the job suits me) in less than 3 months (yes my timing was perfect).
Yes, relocating to another country with a pet does have its hurdles and challenges – but none of them are insurmountable. I would have carried such a heavy burden of guilt had I not made the effort to keep both my Cayman dogs and I know for a fact my life is so much richer and fuller for keeping them. I have recently moved to larger, more expensive accommodations – that yes, allows larger breed dogs – and am very grateful every day that I have all the wonderful memories of my first Cayman dog and look forward to years of enjoyment with my second.
I noticed an earlier post stating that one need not microchip or have their animal vaccinated for rabies to enter the US and/or Canada. While I was allowed to bring my dog (who I already had microchipped by Dr Bush at Island Vet-which turned out to be helpful) into the US in December 2009 without the rabies titer, I was questioned, strongly, by a US Dept of Agriculture official at Miami Airport. I stood my ground advising that Cayman was rabies free and that I already had an appointment with a vet at my final destination specifically to get the vaccination but one can avoid such stress (who needs it at time like that) by getting the vaccination by Cayman Dept of Ag (same as going to the UK) before they leave Cayman.
I see a hell of a lot of dogs here.. a hell of a lot, that if they are a ‘part of the family’ it’s no family I would want to be a part of.
You got that right. Why do people here, and the Caribbean in general, own dogs that they tie up outside – rain or shine. That’s not a pet -that’s a barking nuisance and cruel to boot. Never understood it, never will.
I live in the USA….u should join my rescue groups or just watch Animal Planet/ASPCA, then "Caribbean" will include the world. U idiot.
Provided a an outdoor pet has adequate shelter, feed and water, and gets regular exercise, there’s nothing at all wrong in keeping your dog(s) in a yard. Not everyone feels its healthy to keep pets indoors. In fact many in the Caribbean consider it ‘dirty’ and/or ‘unhealthy’ to keep dogs in the house, and think their European and American counterparts are utterly crazy for keeping their pets inside their houses.
At the end of the day, as I have already said, provided the pet is well cared for, where it is kept is irrelevant.
I know someone whose dog died recently of heat stroke from being tied up outside, and that person didn’t even seem to realize how wrong that was! It would be a chargeable offense of animal cruelty in most countries.
WHAT?????
In other words…. a lot of dogs here are treated inhumanly.
What about the people who are going to take their pets with them?
There are a lot of people who do leave pets here, but then there are many more who take these pets with them! I think that the stupid [people] who let their dogs roam the streets to breed and further exacerbate the problem should be prosecuted!
Like the saying goes in the UK, a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. So what if you’re relocating to a new country? The dogs will have become very attached to you and then to just abandon them, is so cruel and does actually upset them in a big way. My husband & I have first hand experience of this abandonment issue with our first dog that we adopted from Humane Society. It took her a long time to trust either of us. Our second dog was adopted as a puppy and although a little terror sometimes, neither my husband nor I could imagine our lives whether here or abroad, without them.
As we are both work permit holders the inevitable roll over will happen and I have already found out all the information that I need to enable us to have them ready to depart with us. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to find the forms or to pick up a phone and call either the Animal Hospital or Agriculture Department.
Some people are incredibly stupid / cruel.
The Humane Society really is busting at the seams…. instead of 1, 2 or even 3 dogs to a kennel there are as many as 7 or 8. The problem with this is that there are inevitably going to be fights, and due to differences in temperament, it’s likely to be the same animal(s) repeatedly being picked on. There are also studies that show dogs at shelters for an extended time are likely to develop varying levels of hearing loss because of the insane noise level. I remember reading one report where at many times the noise exceeded the measurement scale/equipment that the researchers were using. It is a sad situation because although the HS isn’t a "no-kill" shelter, they try to not have to put down any animals… but sometimes tough decisions have to be made, unfortunately… especially when there is infringement on the animal’s welfare & quality of life.
It is my sincere hope that all those posting on here about how terrible this is, etc. are actually going down to the HS to see for themselves. Many of the dogs can be fostered so that theydon’t have to be in the HS, and not only have more human interaction, but hopefully get some training as well. So please consider fostering a dog (or cat!) if you cannot adopt. BTW, dog walkers & cat cuddlers are always needed too.
HS: 949-1461
Animalliberator, I totally agree with you on many points. The most important issues for me and I hope others are the Law and what is being imported in to the islands.
First the law to protect the animals. Yes there is one!!! But sadly getting the Animal Control Officers to enforce the law is a joke. I reported 3 Pitt Bull puppies (yes I know this is a forbidden breed and I do not agree with this but that is another subject,) that were tied up and starving, full of fleas and covered with skin lesions. Needless to say nothing was done by the Animal Control Officer except "talking" with the owner. This person was planning to fight and breed these young puppies. Everyone in the neighborhood knew this. I was promised they would keep an eye on the owner and the puppies, and of course nothing changed. I called several times trying to get them to return to the property. Although they promised to do so, they never did . I even asked why they would not remove the puppies to safety and require the owner to appear in court as the law requires. This was the answer from the Officer: "It takes to long to get the person in to court and then we find ourselves sitting around for days waiting to be heard." So tell me why not? You are going to get paid to just sit there. Sadly 2 of the puppies died and the third one just "disappeared". I am sure we all have horror stories to be told and I have heard to many times how the Animal Control Officers are not doing the job they are paid to do. We all know what happens when you try and help an animal in a bad situation.
As for the spaying and neutering. There are programs offered to the public to have this done at little to no cost and there is no reason not to take advantage of this. Anyone refusing to spay their animal should be fined or given a voucher for a spaying and a limited number of days to have it done. Fine would be voided after the spaying is done. If spaying is not done then remove the animal, spay it, find it a new home and still fine the owner. Neutering should also be done but the spaying issues comes first.
As for importation of animals. I total agree that no animal that is not spayed or neutered should be allowed in to our islands. We are seeing so many animals imported from Jamaica for breeding and the fast money. These animals are over priced and most are unhealthy and the product of poor breeding. Sadly some of the people involved in this importation work for our government in departments that should be controlling this.
Puppy MIlls and Back Yard Breeders are a problem in the US now and the Humane Society and the Government is working hard at getting a control on it. Our islands are just that "Islands" not a large metro city. We can control this. It will takes laws and rules and officers that will enforce them. Anyone wanting to breed must have a permit, a kennel which meet the requirements and health inspections annual on all their animals. They must not breed an animal until it is 2 years of age and it must be health. Breeding is limited to 1 litter every 18 months or 2 years. The kennel would also be limited to the number of animals they can have at one time. No animal would be bred after a certain age and that age to be determined by a vet. Any good breeder will have no problem following these rules.
I know this sounds like a lot but the problems we have now are not going to go away and will only get worse. So spent the money and makethe effort now or deal with the much bigger problem later. I can assure you it will become a very costly and heartbreaking problem the longer this goes on.
I will tell you that I have heard from many tourists that they do not understand why a country with so much beauty and wealth would allow our animals to be treated like a thrid world country. This speaks volumes for what and who we are.
If you are reading this and agree please contact your local rescue groups. If you have any other ideas on what can be done please let them know. Maybe if we put this together and present it to our government maybe things can be changed. Maybe the director of the DOA will read this and find that by talking and working with our Rescue Groups that more can be done. Sad to say that as of now the volunteers and private donations are doing more than our government.
when are people going to stopped being shocked by 3rd world behavior here.. IT’S HERE!
Check out YOUR hometown’s animal control!! Broward County Animal Control puts animals to sleep after 3 days, many times when the owner has called and is on their way to pick up their pet!! Same story with microchipped pets…put to sleep before properly scanning them! Google them and read the horror stories. Yep third world mentality right here in the good ole US of A…@#?!@#!
Very few, if any, officials will risk making an enemy on behalf of an animal, been there too many times now. As if they really did, there would be no paraquat or strichnine on the local market that kill, besides what it is supposed to kill but not really, dogs, cats, owls (FYI, strichnine is used to kill rats but owls and cats die as a result of that). Farmers would not be allowed to have guns to kill our very local PROTECTED parrot to save a mango that nobody really wants.
The DoA attempts to educate, fine, but contineous action is very much required post this so-called education to make sure laws are followed and to get the notion that people that need education are actually doing something with that education. Otherwise it is the usual waste of time and effort.
I remember once, a farmer bragging about killing over 100 Cayman parrots to save his mangoes. Farmer didn’t know my views on animal cruelty. He sure does now. Hear he’s become a christian. God must’ve had a hard time forgiving him!
Yes I agree with you… particularly as somone’s paraquat killed my beloved horse. These substances should be banned.
This dog story is so like the real story in my country now: Sure we have your interest at heart Caymanians….Give us your soul….we are the best at everything and care for everything…oops I forgot, that’s only when it suits us. You were dooped – we are not as sincere as we first appeared. We drop it all and will leave at a moment’s notice if need be. And the best one for us simple Caymanians – blame us for their ingenuiness – IT’s THE ROLLOVER! what a joke. Dah wha we should get. We like puupy lick our face too much.
HUH? Could you please explain what you just said so we may enjoy your comment? Thank You
If you’re saying what I think you’re saying (and I’m not really sure what that is) but if it’s what i think you’re saying, you should try living where EVERY YEAR there is a chance that you will be deported losing your job, home, money,etc. and then see how loyal or connected to that place you feel and act. It’s just a simple matter of seeing the writing on the wall, assessing risks and benefits, and then acting to take care of yourself and family.
And at this time there seems to be a GOOD chance that getting deported will happen. Add to that, that you won’t even know why you lost you home, job etc.. Maybe some more ‘qualified’ person wants to work at yopur job for a while, maybe someone on the board receives advantage for you leaving, maybe you stepped on a toe of (Oh my! horrible), and maybe someone was just shopping for lights for their new house while your file under their care got lost. Life is a crapshoot anyway and this all just takes it to a new level.
Assess risks vrs. benefits and act.
good bye and thanks for all the fish
Remember the saying .. a pet is for life, just not for Christmas!
What a wonderful, rose-tinted world so many of you live in.
I know I’m going to get a lot of thumbs down for this, but the reason so many expats struggle to take their pets back with them is that once they get kicked off the island, typically they don’t have a nice big house and garden waiting for them on their return which is suitable for a pet. To start with, a returning expat is likely to be in rented accomodation for a while, whilst they get back on their feet, find a job, and find somewhere suitable to rent long term. Money is tight. Many places will not allow pets. It is not a position expats enjoy finding themselves in, but it is the risk of living in Cayman. Is it fair to subject an animal to a potential transatlantic journey, then to have to keep them shut up in a rented apartment each day on their return for months, maybe years (if you can find a place that allows pets).
Of course all the holiert-than-thou Einsteins on here respond with a finger-wagging: "well don’t adopt a pet if you can’t take it back with you".
Guess all expats should therefore stop adopting pets in case they get kicked off the island at some stage. Smart advice. DUH.
You are one obnoxious ignorant person.. get organised! Fidn a place to rent that allows pets.. its not that difficult ( I would know!) It just takes someone with a sense of organisation.. and you should be walking your dog anyways so even if you only live in an apartment (like 99% of Europeans- who still have pets.. wow… even large dogs) you shuold be taking your pet for walks regularly!
As far as getting kicked off the island.. yes (finger wag wag) either dont get an animal if you are too irresponsible to organise what you will do with it when you move (other than dump it) or get off ur rear end and plan something!
umm, it’s not like they brought a pet on to the island and then left it adding to the numbers. The dog was here. The dog is caymanian, if you really want to solve the problem, treat the dogs like people and kick them off too.
I did not bring a dog here. I did not add to the problem. Yet you berrate me and call me obnoxious and ignorant for pointing out the problems expats have trying to help solve Caymans exploding dog population problem.
Finding a place to rent in Cayman that allows dogs is not hard – that I would agree with that point – but thats not the issue.
It is when I get kicked off and have to leave to an uncertain future back home that is the problem. You have no idea where I come from or the likely chances I have of finding somewhere that takes animals (yet you call me ignorant!) yet I know the chances are very unlikely. Why do I know? Because I have been looking.
So it seems an easy decision to make for me. I won’t be adopting a dog.
There. Does that make you happy? Have I done the right thing in your rose-tinted world where everything is perfect?
While I understand your argument to a certain degree… us Einsteins’ are getting pretty sick and tired of remaining on the island with all the ‘lost’ animals as I have adopted many.
Animals should be treated as children to an extent and even if you don’t have a big house or garden wherever you find yourself ending up, if your pets could talk, I am sure they would say they would rather end up with you.
So if you ever in a million years might possibly ever ever be in a position where you cannot look after your pet – don’t ever get one?
No wonder the humaine society is crowded.
With all due respect, I dont think you will find many ex pats letting their packs of dogs roam the streets and breed every other dog on the block. So I don’t think you can place the blame firmly on the ex pat community’s shoulders when the country ends up overrun with dogs either.
U said it for me….many expats come from nothing and have even less to go back to…I’d take my chances on the streets of Cayman rather than the streets of anywhere else, esp the USA, if I had 4 legs! Yep, betta believe dat! Don’t let me start with my animal rescue stories please…….
I have adopted 3 cats since living here, mostly after the hurricane. I adopted these animals for many reasons, and the most important was for them to be a part of my family. I am responsible for them, and it is my responsibility to take care of them for the remainder of their lives.
In the words of Gandhi “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.
AMEN. Thank you!
This is for Anon. We have traveled in the USA every summer with our dog and have no problem finding a hotel,motel and even a B&B that will accept pets. Sometimes there is a fee or deposit and maybe a size restriction but you can find a place. We lived on the island for 13 years and ever summer our dog would leave with us and return. Yes it was a lot ofplanning, paperwork and cost but my dog is family and we would never leave her behind. SO if you want your pet to go with you start now looking do not wait till thelast minute. Also taking a pet to the USA is not difficult like the UK. There is not a 6 month wait or blood test.
It’s dreadful what people are doing to these animals! We’re making plans to head back to the UK, and we’re starting the process for taking our 4 dogs back with us. Come hell or high water, they are coming!
When you choose to have an animal, it’s for a very long duration if not for life! All of our Dogs are rescued, and they are like my kids. There is always a way to take them back. I’m not saying it’s cheap, but it’s possible.
Think before making a promise you can’t keep!
This article (and a previous one re. owls) are so very sad. If it is truly the cost of food, please ask tourists to bring down food when we travel. I am sure we can all fit some cans in our luggage or leave some Caymanian dollars behind on our way off the island. These stories break my heart. How anyone could leave the island without their pet or without a plan for their pet……..I just can not understand.
I know this has nothing to do with what is posted BUT there is a beautiful golden retriever (could be mixed) but the one with the long hair at the Agriculture Pound for the past 3 weeks. You can see the dog was a house dog. It looks like the dog got lost, but cannot figure out why someone hasn’t come and looked for it. It is so sad to see it there.
Thank you…now will someone please go get that dog?? And all others there also!! I once busted a Siberian Husky out of the pound…yes, I did. She was about to be put to sleep and I had to do something. In the middle of the night, I was climbing over the fence, this dog under my arm and my 7months pregnant belly (9.8lb boy)! I drove around with the dog until it became very excited, so I let it out and watched it run home. Owner said he did not know the dog catchers would pick up a pedigree dog!! A trap had been set and the Husky was enticed by the smell of meat.
Please, everyone, if your dog does not come home one night, please go to the pound and look for it! Please. A collar and ID could prevent so many tragedies.
What about the feral cats? My heart breaks when these animals come around so fearful of humans and yet crying out in hunger. Their fur is all matted and they are struggling hard to survive on lizards and bugs. Some uncaring owner has abandoned them in the wild. Perhaps a pregnant mom was left behind causing the feral cat population to grow larger all the time. Sure, I can feed a few of them temporarily while I am on island, but if I do have to leave, they sure can’t go with me. I can also do my best to capture them in a cage and get them fixed, one at a time and let them go again….. what else can I do? Should they be put down? Is it fair to to allow them to struggle on in the wild?
I chose not to adopt a pet here for the very reasons listed above. I literally cannot afford the cost it would take to be responsible for a pet if I had to leave island. Therefore, I agree. Do not adopt if you do not intend to take your pet with you. If you do adopt, then you are responsible and must take them along when you go.
you’re off the mark slightly.
ANy cats adopted by expats are from the Humane Society so have been neutered already. So it won’t be an expat dumping a pregnant cat.
So many cats and kittens are put down at the HS every year as they have so many. So it is better to kill a 3 month old cat that has spent it’s life in a small cage, or atleast give the cat a few years of happiness and love beofre it reutnrs to the shelter to be pout down?
Frankly if thery were move repsponsible Caymanian animal owners that spayed and neutered there animals then we would not be in this mess to begin with.
I asked a Caymanian neighbour why he didn;t have his cat neutered, they said it was cruel to neuter a cat before they had a least one litter. When the llitter came he dumped the kittens in a bo by the side of the Easterly Tibbets highway. Apparently it’s more cruel to not let a cat have kittens than to dump those kittens to be run over.
That is some sound logic right there.
Thanks for your kind heart. Fixing them would be the right thing if you can catch them. I work with alot of folks in the US who do a spay/neuter and release program. Cats are pretty good about surviving. It’s not the best life, but if they could tell you, I think the other option would be out of the question. We continue to feed our released cats, with a clipped ear, so the next rescuer will know they are fixed. Maybe you can arrange for someone to feed whenever you leave. Good luck.
I agree 100% with this article. I cannot believe how many people can just give their pets up! For these animals you are their family, you are their pack, they rely on you and they TRUST YOU! How could you just give them up like that?
Another important thing that this article should mention is that it is VERY EASY to take your pet into another country from Cayman because Cayman is a rabies free zone! This makes it so much simpler than from most other countries! So if you are going back home, take your pet with you!
You are not doing the island, or the animal, any favour by adopting a puppy/kitten and leavign behind a grown dog/cat! Then the dog/cat would definately have been better off without you! Puppies and kittens are cute, yes, but grown animals find it difficult to find homes so unless you are willing to commit to doign EVERYTHING you POSSIBLY CAN for this animal- for the ENTIRE DURATION OF ITS LIFE (that is approx 15 years) PLEASE DO NOT ADOPT A PUPPY OR KITTEN since that is the time its its life that it will be most liekly to find a truly loving home!
I myself have 2 dogs(who I relocated with 2 times already), one cat and I am currently fostering 2 kittens. I would do everything I can to ensure that wherever I go in lif my animals come too! I could not even imagien leavign them behind- it would be like giving up a family member!
PLEASE PEOPLE THINK BEFORE YOU ADOPT! Be organised… its not difficult at all to take your animal so be proactive, plan and if you are nto prepared to do that please don’t do the injustice to a young animal to adopt it and then dump it! Have a heart!
For all those many people who do take responsible, loving care of your pets, thank you! I myself can say that I cannot imagine my life without my beloved pets and they give me so much more than I could ever give them!
When I go home after being here 7 years, I will have nowhere to live, and most likely will have to stop at hotels/motels/B&B’s until I can first find a job, and then find and afford somewhere to live. You can be damned sure that most if not all hotels/motels/B&B’s won’t take pets. But I do want to take my dog home with me and I will try tomake alternative arrangements to make that possible. But if all else fails, my way of dealing with this is to set up a Cayman home for my pet when I leave. I have a good friend here who has been a friend since I first arrived, and he is going to take my dog and care for him should I be unable to take him with me.
I posted this just to demonstrate that perhaps the complications might lie at the other end, and not the Cayman end. But as you can see, if you are determined, you can find a way to ensure your pet continues to be cared for rather than give it up if the worst comes to the worst – all it takes is a little advance planning.
Sounds like people need to plan their lives better – which includes a contingency plan for pets. OR … he’s a novel idea – DO NOT GET A PET IF YOU WILL HAVE NO PLACE TO LIVE WHEN YOU GET ROLLED OVER!
I can’t believe people are using this excuse. Being rolled over is not something that would not be unexpected and there’s tons of advance notice and planning that people should be doing.
and waht if your made redundant and have 2 weeks to leave? you can prepare all the paper work to leave in advance ie the uK still needs the rabies vaccine done and a pet passport in place.
But 2 weeks is not a great deal of time to try and find some where to live in another country that accepts animals, especially when you have to sell everything here before you go.
I personally couldn’t leave my animals behind but if it means your going have to pay for the travel cost and then put them in a shelter where your going when you haveno money after being laid off then it doesn’t take a genius to see what the choice will be.
Frankly if more residents had there animals neutered and spayed it wouldn’t mean nearly every expat has to adopt an animal so the shetler wasn’t bursting in the first place.
It seems every week I here about more puppies abandoned by a main road.
So true mon
Animal laws in Cayman need to be strengthened and enforced. ANYONE who abuses an animal or allows it’s suffering should face charges. The rich, as well as the poor are doing it. The moral as well as the immoral. If I had my way, it would be illegal to chain/tie animals, including cows and horses. If you cannot provide a free-roaming enclosed area for your animal, then you don’t have one. Plain and simple. Clean water/food is the least one can do for their animals and some don’t even provide that!! Shelter from the heat in Cayman is of utmost importance! Some don’t have that!
But it is not only Cayman. It’s worldwide. Even countries with strict animal laws have those who would neglect, abuse, or torture animals. I could write a book on what I’ve encountered here in the US.
Until these folk understand that animals have feelings and emotions, abuse will continue. It is up to us who care and give a damn, to watch over and do all we can to protect God’s creatures.
Thanks to all expats who give a damn.
you shouldent of adpoted it in the first place
Oh better to let the poor thing wither and die then – as that was what it was doing before being rescued. And then, because the Humane Society couldn’t take it – rather than the dog ending up being destroyed the person kept it , loved and cared for it, and arranged for a new foster home for rollover because they couldn’t take it home. Yet this is still not good enough for you?
Some of you are too stuck up, arrogant and judgmental for your own good.
^ Yes Anon 16.22 but you know and work with me, and you know how I ended up with the dog. If your check my original post, admittedly I had not mentioned that the same dog had roamed my yard for almost a year, and was close to dead and petrified of all human beings when I saved her. She now adores me and the only two people she trusts are my friend and I. I intend to take her with me as I stated above, but if I do run into difficulties my friend has always said he would keep her, and I know she would be loved and well cared for if that came to be the case. I also hope to return here to work again as soon as I am legally entitled to after the rollover.
But I admit some of the responses do seem harsh even though I omitted details of how I came to end up with the dog in my initial post. Perhaps had I put this info in the original post it may have been better received!
I didn’t it was a stray and it adopted me – see below
I think it is pure selfishness to have a pet whilst here and then to abandon it – whether giving it to a friend or the humane society – it is still abandonment – it is even worse to adopt when you know you have no intention of making Cayman your home!
Be responsible – don’t have a pet if you have no intention of taking them with you when you leave.
As the article says there is no longer an excuse to leave them behind when you return home.
Right ya – I still dey ya!
Please do me a favour and read a few of my subsequent posts explaining how I ended up with my dog. And please after reading that let me know if you still think I am selfish and cruel because I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure my dog continues to loved and cared for in the event I cannot take her with me for any reason.
And oh boy I wish I could make Cayman my home. It feels like home to me, and I love Cayman deeply, but unfortunately its impossible for me to choose to live here (as I would) – I have to get out of this place when my 7 years is up. You can be damned sure I comin back if I can secure a job again when legally entitled to do so.
Hey you should have thought about this before you got a pet. Cayman isn’t a pet friendly country so when you leave your pet here expect the worst circumstances.
I should have said more in my original post but perhaps if you have the time, read my comment further below. I did not get the dog. The dog was wild, emaciated and dying. It had roamed my yard for almost a year before I could befriend it and feed it. The Humane Society was full so rather than dump it I kept it and it now only loves and trusts two people – me and my friend, and we have both grown to love her dearly. I do not expect the worst, I expect the best because as I have already said, my friend will keep the dog here in Cayman if I have difficulties takingit back home, and in any event, I am hoping to return. I did not plan to have a dog, it just happened, and when I tried to do the right thing, neither the humane society nor agriculture could help me and I just couldn’t be responsible for the dog dying or being put down so I kept it.
Great article and a subject that needs again and again some serious attention as the aforementioned article is I’m afraid too true to be good.
Too many animals are being treated as some kind of temporary "toy" of the family that when things get a little rough caused by things such as roll-over, unemployment or simply wishes to leave, the animals are simply being thrown out the window so to speak and on some known occasions, literally!
Also to all those who claim they can no longer support the animal such as can’t feed "it" (a very common reference to an animal) anymore does not wash either in my humble opinion as it only cost about 50 cents a day to feed the average cat or dog, if even that. Ways can be found to finance animal healthcare if one only cared a little and can also be minimized by simply taking good care of the animal in the first place, just like one would care for a child. Can’t throw children out of the window now can we?
Furthermore, we need better legislation to protect our animals much better then the way we do now. In Texas, out of all places, it is a felony to abandon any animal including mal-treatment such as leaving the animal, usually dogs of course, out in the open in the hot sun with no shelter, food or water and basic hygiene. Recently another dog was found virtually dead in a yard so incredibly infested with ticks combined with the circomstances I just mentioned and actually did die a little later thanks to the "care" of the owners, this was dog # 2 that happened to with the same owners and still nothing was done about it.
As far as travel is concerned, Agostinelli has explained very well how easy it is to take your pet with you, no excuse not to. If owners are unable to take their animal(s) on the day of departure or are not sure yet as to where they may end up, animals have been shipped at a later date to their new destination. It can all be done, all you have to do is care, make some arrangements and it will all fall in to place, the way it should be.
The animal population is still growing, mostly thanks to those who find it too much work to take the animal to the Humane Society to have him or her spayed or neutered while all facilities and finacial assistance if absolutely necessary are available to them. Because of that is exactly why the HS is currently bursting out of the seams with mostly abandoned animals.
I once again speak out that we must ban breeding and importation of pets until we have no more animals to give away from the Humane Society. The way it is now is hardly a solution to achieve a balanced and healthy animal population in these islands.
I don’t understand why people leave their pets behind when leaving the islands. Simply they don’t care their dogs and cats first place! I have a bitch dog who love me very much which I will take with me anywhere in the world.