On an average, the San Fernando Pound receives in excess of 50 dogs per week. The dogs come in all sizes and in varying condition — healthy, sick, injured, pregnant, in heat, old or aggressive are all put together in the same kennels.

The Pound has no running water, and these kennels are often filled with urine and faeces, especially after a weekend when the staff does not work. In fact, after a weekend it is not unusual to find dead and cannibalised dogs in the kennels due to the fact that they had not received anything to eat or drink in days.

According to law, the Pound is supposed to make efforts to find the owners of dogs that are clearly lost and to keep them at least five working days until their owners claim them. This is not done and these healthy animals are euthanised twice a week with the other strays.

We, the undersigned, believe that, in addition to being illegal, these conditions are inhumane and barbaric and not in keeping with the benchmarks of a civilised society. 

We therefore strongly urge the San Fernando City Corporation to upgrade and/or relocate the Pound to more sanitary facilities and provide a humane and acceptable level of care in keeping with the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.