Dogs found on the streets will be Euthanised warns TCI Animal Control

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, February 16, 2022 – The Turks and Caicos Islands government has announced that it will euthanize all dogs found in traps set by the Department of Agriculture, which are without their tag.

In a Facebook post last week the TCIG warned residents not to damage traps or release the dogs from the traps; the penalty includes a stiff fine.

The government’s animal control arm also warned citizens not to take measures into their own hands or inflict acts of cruelty to stray animals as this is also an offense.

“On receiving complaints of stray dogs, Officers will make a site visit with the person(s) who have made the complaint. Traps are baited and set in the afternoon and collected the following morning. Any dog found in the traps that are not wearing an identification tag is humanely euthanized.” the release stated further.

Stray animals with collars intact will be returned to their owners.

The notice has elicited outrage from some residents who say this is not the way to deal with overpopulation of stray dogs on the islands.

Comments explained, ‘Beloved pets who escaped often lose their collars and are identified by their coats and markings by owners.’

Under the current system, pets could be euthanized without owners getting a chance to identify them.