As police continue investigations into the mauling of four-year-old Ezekiel Renne-Cambridge, Palmiste residents say they have no choice but to keep guard dogs in the posh residential area to protect them from criminals.They insist, however, that guard dogs must be secured in a fenced area to avoid attacks on innocent passers-by.Vice-president of Animals Alive Jowelle De Souza said most Palmiste residents have dogs because of the high crime rate."People keep guard dogs and 99 per cent of the times, burglars don't go near a house where there are guard dogs...The burglars try to find another way in," De Souza said.
She called on owners to secure their guard dogs to prevent any untoward mishaps and explained that all dogs, regardless of the breed, had the potential to be vicious, if they were so trained.De Souza called on Government to review the Dangerous Dogs Act to ensure breeds of dogs, other than the pitbull terrier, Fila Brasileiro, and Japanese Tosa, were categorised as dangerous dogs.She said there was a tendency to cross-breed dogs so it would be difficult to enforce legislation on dogs that were not pure-bred.De Souza's sentiments were echoed by animal activist Nalini Dial, who heads the group Animals are Human Too.Dial explained that under the Summary Offences Act, a dog owner could be prosecuted.
"This law is archaic and needs to be revisited," she said."In T&T, many dog owners do not have their premises fenced or enclosed and allow them to roam freely...No one who does not have fenced property should own a dog."Animals need to be let loose for exercise and socialisation. They are like children and they need to be properly raised."Owners are responsible for dogs' actions and they must pay a fine or do the time if their dogs attack innocent people."Another animal activist, Jenny Kalloo, said putting the dogs to sleep would not solve the situation. She called on the Government and parents to teach children not to attack dogs.
She explained that a public education drive should be launched in schools and communities to underscore the importance of spaying and neutering pets.Commenting on the dog-mauling incident, yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said dangerous dogs began coming into the country when the crime situation deteriorated.He argued, however, that "as much as citizens have a right to protect himself or herself, on the other hand, citizens have a right to walk the road free from that kind of molestation."Speaking with the media at the commencement of roadworks ceremony at Forres Park Recreation Ground, Claxton Bay, Rambachan said: "Government would have to relook and rethink how they regulate this business of dangerous dogs in the country."
Ezekiel improves
Meanwhile, Ezekiel's condition has improved.A close relative said he remained in the Intensive Care Unit at the San Fernando General Hospital but had been taken off the ventilator."He is in a lot of pain and he is still sedated...Most times he is in and out of consciousness," the relative said.Police visited the scene of the incident yesterday and interviewed owner of the dogs, Vidya Emrith. A senior officer, however, said charges could not be laid under the Dangerous Dogs Act because of the breed of the dogs involved in the incident were not included in the Act.
