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Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has warned dog-owners who may wish to abandon their dogs when the Dogs Control Bill becomes law. He said so yesterday while presenting the bill for debate in the Senate. The legislation, which was approved in the House of Representatives, seeks to ensure there was responsible owners of dogs. Ramlogan said the bill provides for a one-year jail term and a fine of $50,000.
He said a dog owner told him recently the $250,000 insurance premium owners must pay to keep their dogs would be a disincentive and the owners might let loose their dogs on the streets. Ramlogan said he asked the man if the price of milk were to increase if he would “let go your children in a canefield.” Opposition Senator Terrence Deyalsingh then asked Ramlogan if he really said so.
The AG responded immediately: “Yes , I did... of course I did because that is what he was threatening to do.” Ramlogan then told legislators: “Those persons who want to threaten and blackmail the Government, saying they will be abandoning the dangerous dogs and set them upon the population you better beware and be careful.”
He said that action underscores an owner’s unfitness to be the owner of a dangerous dog and it justifies the Government’s move to enact legislation to deal with reckless and irresponsible owners of dangerous dogs. Ramlogan said it was a criminal offence to abandon the dogs. He said owners must behave responsibly. Ramlogan said if the owner could not “put down” the dog himself he should take it to a dog pound for that purpose.
He then warned: “Do not let the dog loose on the population as you are threatening to do. That is tantamount to blackmailing the society. That will not be tolerated. It is not acceptable and it is highly irresponsible.”
