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Puppies In A Park Starving - Page 3

Sara, I read your post and I must admit that it was very moving. However, I must confess that I am one of the many individuals who do not regard TTSPCA in a favourable light. Please allow me to illustrate two examples.

About two decades ago, I went to TTSPCA when they were located by ROXY cinema. I used to visit quite regularly to see all the cute puppies and kittens. I even convinced my parents to allow me to adopt not one, but two puppies. When I looked around, my heart went out to two cute medium sized dogs. A TTSPCA worker indicated that these dogs were about two years old and required a lot of exercise. I did not mind. I went in the office and told the clerk about my desire to adopt these two dogs. I had to fill out forms and when they were completed, the person indicated that in two weeks time, someone would visit my home to ensure that I had a safe secure home to offer these two abandoned dogs. Of course, most of us know how this story ends. NO ONE EVER CAME! When I contacted the office, the same person admitted that they were short staffed and offered to take my information on the phone all over again. At that point, I was disgusted and told the person that I changed my mind.

Another reason why the public thinks so negatively about TTSPCA is the scandal that took place a few years ago. Unfortunately, I cannot recollect the precise date. I do however, remember being someone who supported TTSPCA very regularly. I offered my spare time to assist in cleaning cages or just play with the animals who looked very sad and lonely. I always donated money on a regular basis. That is, until I read about the scandal in the newspapers. Apparently the donations for TTSPCA were deposited in an account and hardly ever used. Eventually, someone became greedy and tried to withdraw all the funds and leave the country. Fortunately, I think it was the bank or someone else from TTSPCA noticed the discrepancy and a full investigation was done. Sara, this is why the public has turned their back on TTSPCA. And also, hence the reason why AWN was born. I have spoken to many members in AWN and the majority of them never had a kind word to say about TTSPCA and prefer to be recognized as AWN members. Most of them, are also very embarrassed about this scandal and prefer to distance themselves from TTSPCA.

I would admit that there was a time when TTSPCA did excellent work where strays were concerned but due to the scandal, many people are hesitant to donate or associate themselves with TTSPCA. As for the government, they never regard shelters for stray animals as a priority and that is a very cold and hard fact. I know this may sound insensitive but if you look at it from a moral perspective, human life should take precedence over all animals. Then again, the way the current regime treats all Trinbagonians, do we really expect them to show any empathy towards street strays?

Starving Park In Puppies

Name: Sara

Comments: Hi, I just checked onto the site again and saw a few more questions about the TTSPCA, so; I thought they should be answered.

With regards to Yeniseri's comments:
Most countries have a Government service that removes strays from public areas, infact; very few SPCA's will act in a dog catching capacity. I have spoken to many SPCA's over the years and looked at their protocols regarding services. All of the money collected by the TTSPCA goes towards our animals, and; this money is used to spay, house, feed, treat and maintain the animals in our care until a home is found by means of adoption. We have 2 vets at our shelter and a 3rd starting in September, they operate a low cost spay/neuter clinic in which low income house-holds get affordable surgeries and in some cases free surgeries for their animals. We make sure that every animal is healthy and spayed before leaving the shelter, and a home check is done to ensure that the dog will have a safe environment in which to live. My suggestion is, when you are in the country/or town, please see us at the Northern Branch TTSPCA, we have an open door and open book system in which you can see that we are indeed an organisation, and; an organisation that is fully above board.

Now to the comments made by Gennie:

I'm glad that I have answered some of your questions, however, I feel that I should clarify a few points stated in your repy.

As you said, your experience was with our 'old' Roxy Branch, and yes, there were many problems, however; this has changed.
We have a new location, just off Mucurapo Rd. St. James, new management, a new outlook, and very new ideas on how a shelter should be run. I am aware of the 'cloud' that hung over the TTSPCA in it's past regarding certain situations, however, the comments made were not accurate, and even though I don't wish to go into the details, I should say that perhaps you should not believe the newspapers version 100%.

With regards to the Animal Welfare Network (AWN) I'm one of the group of 9 people that started AWN, and AWN was started as an educational group to promote spay/neuter, and to work along side the shelter. Yes, as AWN developed, there was found to be a need to rescue, rehome and treat animals, but there was never any intention of AWN opening a shelter of it's own, again, we did have many old TTSPCA members that were unhappy about situations that occured with the past TTSPCA, but; in the whole most of AWN's members were, and still are TTSPCA members. I should also point out, that the person who helps advise us, and support us on many things to do with the daily running of the TTSPCA, and; is a great advocate of the TTSPCA, is actually the person whose idea it was in the first place to start AWN. So again, perhaps there is more than one side to every story.

I hope that I have answered some more of your concerns, and I also hope that you have a chance to check out the TTSPCA on our Facebook page, it's filled with loaads of information about us, and maybe then we can change your view about us.

In closing, I can only hope that you will put the past in the past, and see the great things we are doing for animal welfare in Trinidad and Tobago.

Puppies In A Park Starving Caribbean / Tobago & Trinidad

I've never had any dealings with the TTSPCA on a physical level but I'm just wondering if they are private or government run? When the dog catchers get the dogs on the street do they take them to the TTSPCA or another location?

Page 3 Starving Park In Puppies

Name: Sara

Comments: Indira, The TTSPCA is not a government agency,however, it does take in dogs that are caught by 4 Corporations (dog catching units), the following is the reason why we do this.
A few years ago we heard many reports about the conditions of some of the pound facilities, the stories were terrible (I'm not going to go into details, but let's just put it this way, concerned persons investigated the conditions of the animals kept for the mandatory 5 day period and were horrified that they had to endure such treatment for that length of time). It was then that the TTSPCA approached the Corporations and offered their services to house the stray animals caught by them (We felt that as a humane organization we could not stand by and just leave the situation to continue). As I've said before, we now have 4 Corporations that have agreed to bring in their animals to us 9we wish more had agreed), and it has proved to be beneficial to both organisation, for the Corporations they don't have the expense and trouble of having to deal with animals, and for us, it means that the animals caught by the dog catching units have a safe and humane temporary place to stay. We are also able to re-home some of those animals, something which would have never happened.

Starving Park In Puppies

This Thread seems to be focusing more on the TTSPCA and less on the original point I was making in my first Post. Rasta started a Thread specifically for the TTSPCA here: Source 2 and the Discussion on the TTSPCA services and details can continue there. Sara should register to legitimize her Posts about the same organization as anyone can answer as a Guest.

Puppies In A Park Starving

JB - Joined as requested, and I agree, the topic does seem to be mainly about the TTSPCA, but, I guess it evolved that way because of the previous comments made. I would love to hear about everyones thoughts on the TTSPCA and look forward to hearing both the good and bad arguments on the subject via 'rastas' source.

Puppies In Park Starving - Page 3

I feel bad of animals of street. The animals starving for look of food and people throw rocks at them. Makes me angry.

Puppies In Park Starving Trinidad & Tobago / Caribbean - Page 3

Are dog / cat catchers paid a base salary or per animal they capture? More really has to be done about this and people should be prosecuted for mishandling / mistreating their pets. This will encourage the public to think twice before taking up the responsibility. Liscense, collars with tags and shots with certificates should be mandatory and if it is already it needs to be enforced.