Catron alleges bias on failure to charge dog owners
(CNS): Dog owners whose dog was removed from them after it had attacked another pet on a neighbouring property will not be prosecuted and a local activists thinks it's down to a bias against her. Following several attacks on Sandra Catron and her Shih-Poo , Coco, by a neighbouring vicious dog she has now learned that the authorities will not be prosecuting the owners, despite what she says is a plethora of evidence. While other dangerous dog case are going through the courts after isolated incidents, Catron believes her neighbours are getting away with it because she is the complainant.
Catron, who has a law degree but who is not a qualified lawyer, has taken on the power of the state in numerous criminal and civil actions and has so far come out on top every time. She now believes that she is the subject of persecution by the authorities, who are bringing unfounded criminal allegations against her and refusing to act on what she says are genuine complaints.
“I feel that because I have successfully challenged the authorities on so many occasions I have become a target for continual charges being laid against me by them and any complaints that I make are not taken seriously. In this case there is no logical explanation for the DPP (director of public prosecutions) to decide not to prosecute this case,” she told CNS, after she was informed by the police that the file had come back from the public prosecutor’s office saying there would be no prosecution.
“I have a plethora of emails, independent eyewitnesses, two incidents caught on CCTV footage, and DoA (Department of Agriculture) staff finding the dog off the leash over the past two years and nothing has been done. All of this was supplied to the police. There was another neighbour, who although not filing a formal complaint, also had the same dog enter her home and attempt to attack her small Pomeranian. The RCIPS, and by extension the DPP’s office, would have been aware of all of this,” she added.
Catron said that the dangerous dog was still at the nearby property, it would lie in wait for her and her pet and then ambush them, with, she is convinced, the intention to kill Coco.
“I am aware of at least three other cases in court where there is nowhere near the level of evidence or incidents and yet those persons have been charged with permitting a ferocious dog to be at large. What other conclusion could I possibly draw than the DPP has sought to not take this matter to court simply because I am the victim here?” Catron asked rhetorically.
She said that, as a result of the constant arbitrary decisions by the Office of the DPP, not just in her case but in many others, it was time for government to look at some form of independent oversight to examine how its decisions are made and if they meet the criteria for natural justice.
“I will continue to fight for some minimal professional standards to be used by the RCIPS and the DPP. If this means continuing to bring their decisions before the courts for judicial review, then so be it,” said Catron, who has already done that and won.
The dog in this case was removed but Catron is concerned that the DPP’s decision will see the animal returned. However, an email from the chief inspector at Bodden Town police station said he was notallowing the dog's return, emphasizing the police position that they agreed the dog was dangerous. Nevertheless, he said the prosecutor’s office had ruled against prosecution.
“Despite the DPP's ruling, I am still of the opinion that the dog is a menace to you. However, I have no influence on the DPP's decision,” the senior officer told Catron as he warned her against taking matters into her own hands. “If at any time that you see the menace dog return back at the premises, please call us immediately,” he told her.
Catron is pressing ahead with a civil case against the owners to recoup vet’s expenses from the attacks on her pet, as well as damage to the property around the area as the dog had torn up fences to get out.
See related article on CNS:
Activist fumes as pet endures another attack
Category: Local News
Why can't people handle things on their own anymore? When I was a kid my neighbor's dog bit me. My mom confronted the neighbor only to be cursed at so my dad and uncle took off in their truck and we never saw that dog again 🙂
Not a great resolution
This is how dogs that are unleashed can hurt children:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a13_1400123091
They want police to chase dog crime when they can’t even solve real crime! a waste of time & this is not usa or canada
Indeed it is not
Taken in isolation I would say Ms. Catron is just complaining. HOWEVER, looking at ALL with her the DPP and RCIPS I agree with her. Most would get offended at how she kees suing them and making them look bad!
Dog name Shiiiii poo poo ??
I've given up on my neighbors dog that barks piercing loud. Police do nothing as the owner has previous connections to law enforcement.
I will be moving and I have been able to steer three investor away from this island who were considering buying a house or property to save them the frustration of how owners manipulate thier dogs to annoy thier neighbors on purpose. They are bad actors when you confront your neighbors about the loud barking nuisances and act as though loud barking dogs is the norm like a loud crying baby.
There are much better places that can actually live up to the name "paradise" -this place has become a tourist trap. i'll take my million dollar inheritance else where.
Ooo, your million dollar inheritance! NOW we're impressed! Please, please don't go!
Good luck finding somewhere with no dogs, Mr Unbelievably Wealthy. I suggest Korea. Or parts of China.
What happended to the law that make owners who cant control thier dog to make thier dog wear a muzzle. If that were enforced, this island would gain a little bit more of its charm instead of sounding like there is a kennel on every corner.
I say having a video of the nuiscance in the act sent to the police would be evidene enough to enforce the neighbor to muzzle thier dogs. What a wonderful and peacful island we could still all have.
Good riddance, I breed and lease out dogs to friends who do not like quiet people like you. Expats are forcing out my kind, so why shouldn't we pull every trick out of our hats to do the same.
-Caymankind
Sounds like you have found your life's work
Make sure you move to a paradise where there are NO dogs….. Shake my head. There are dogs everywhere & the last time i checked Dogs bark..its what they do. Also the last time I checked there are bad/annoying neighbors EVERYWHERE in the wold. Maybe you should take your million dollar inheritance and buy your own island with no neighbors and no dogs!
Thanks for saying the obvious…that a person can rationalize and make themselves seem smart by using universal logic to cover up the low life ignorant trash they are…
12:14. What a mean spirited person you are. Hope you reap what you so. Remember what they say about karma,hope it catches up with you and repays you tenfold.
Classic, the victim is the perpetrator.
i use cooland around my garbage! keep your dogs home or else!
So you are publically admitting to poisoining animals with the intent to kill them? You do realize this is an offence? In fact the law here in Cayman states that “a person who, wilfully, without any reasonable cause or excuse, administers or causes or procures … administration of any poisonous or injurious drug or substance to any animal … commits an offence of cruelty” and is liable on conviction to a fine of $4,000 and imprisonment for one year."
I am indifferent to pets, wouldnt hurt one but I certainly don't need legislative or police support. If a dog threatens me or my child or my right to enjoy where I live….he'd have the crap kicked out of him or he'd be dining on a lovely piece of meat laced with something. Sorry but we cannot expect to tame an animal or expect it to behave otherwise than as an animal. They don't belong in our homes or cuddled up in our baby's bed or on a leash. THEY ARE ANIMALS IF YOU NEED TO COMPANIONSHIP OR TO CONTROL SOMETHING FIND ANOTHER DAMN HUMAN.
Further, if people insist on having aggressive breeds as pets then fine but once he comes into my property or personal space, you are at fault when I turn him into a rug.
Wow… Attitude like that and you have children…..
There is a humane way to fix the problem – it's called educating people (ex-pats AND Caymanians) to care and neuter their pets. If you are not a responsibl owner and let your pet roam, then they should be fined for not neutering and having their pet loose. If not paid, court appearance and the fine doubles.
How is a fine going to help a roaming dog AFTER he bites someone's child. They are animals they arent supposed to wear burberry jackets and be forced to have to goo goo and gaa gaa over them like they are babies. Animals have instincts that we humans are way to arrogant in believe we can control. If an animal behaves like an animal I dont see how fining a human is going to solve the problem. I am educated in terms of never believing for one second that an animal isnt going to act or react like an animal and that is why I respect them AND I do not have them in my personal space.
Yes this is the attitude I have AND I have children. I have this attitude BECAUSE Ihave children and have suffered with a neighbors vicious dog attacking us and one time I had to throw my child on top of a car to protect her. I love my children and I put their safety over a dogs any day. Muzzling, fining, neutering, education NONE of that changes the fact that a dog is an animal and I think it is dog owners who are inhumane for forcing a dog to your child when it isnt designed to be anything other than a dog. You would muzzle a dog (which was made to bark HELLO) just so you can chase behind it on a leash and pick up its poop!? BYE
Let me guess. Your a divorced single miserable mother that hates your life and is taking out your anger on other people and animals and you just love to rant on CNS. Get a life…
You guessed wrong! Quite happily married, I just dont agree with keeping animals as pets and forcing them to act otherwise than in accordance with their instincts! If I am on CNS ranting and need a life…where is your life if you are on CNS replying?
"The more I know humans the more I love my dog!"
What a poor excuse for a human being you are! You wouldn't be good enough to be the rug under my feet!
Maybe this neighbourhood dog just finds Coco too sexy…
Sandra, are you absolutely certain this dog – which reportedly has been entering neighbourhood homes with the alleged intention of killing pets – is actually lying in wait for you and Coco to ambush you both with the intent to kill Coco?
Sandra – I fear you may be onto something.
It is a damning article that really makes the police and the director of public prosecutions sound extremely petty against Catron.
Why aren't the laws enforced in Cayman?
It ain't in em, that's why
More than likely it's not about you Sandra. The police here for whatever reason are reluctant to do jack-shit about most things. Dogs, parking, speeding, driving backwards down the middle of the road, you name it and they won't be bothered. Don't really know what it is, but it just ain't in em. They left a car submerged in the dykes for god know how many months. Speaking of the dykes I was there at Barkers yesterday and it is a regular monument to hillbilly a-holeness, dumping all manner of crap including a dog in a plastic bag in the water. Is dumping there illegal, probably not, it's only a national park (the pride of west bay), but if it was do you think our national pride (the police) could figure out who the hillbilly, crap eating, a-holes were that are dumping the remains of their sad lives there? NO! Because it just ain't in em. I haven't figured out what it is in em, guess I'll just keep trying. A curious sort.
What a disgusting island . . . .And I don't even like dogs.
We have a similar problem where I live with a dog that has bitten residents (me) and others on common property in the complex I live. Due to the owners influence the dog is allowed to stay on property and threaten residents on a regular basis. The police and strata seem unable or unwilling to deal with this dangerous animal.
In this instance the owner is being prosectuted but the animal has remained on property since the attack. The case has not been presented yet after 18 months delay.
Public safety: it ain't in em!
At least the owner is being prosecuted!