Interviews by Zoisa Fraser and photos by Jules Gibson.
Do you think that pit bulls and their cross breeds should be restricted in Guyana as has been done in the some parts of the Caribbean, North America and Europe, and the law against dog-fighting enforced? We asked the man/woman in the street these questions and their responses follow below.
Lotoya Cort, cashier
‘Yes I believe that pit bulls and their cross breeds should be restricted from society because they are attacking people. This has happened on too many occasions. Enforcing the law does not make much sense because Guyanese do not abide by our laws. I am generally afraid of all types of dogs and something needs to be done urgently to address [the situation].’
James Khanai, coconut vendor.
‘Yes they should be because some of them even want to attack their owners. These dogs are often dangerous. The recent pit-bull attacks are very serious and this situation needs to be addressed urgently. I wouldn’t keep a dog that is trained to kill. I think that the law against dog fighting needs to be enforced immediately before someone else is attacked and killed. I never heard of someone being killed by a pit bull until recently and I think this shows that these animals are more dangerous than ever.’
Ravie John, barber
‘Pit bulls should be more secured whether it is being muzzled or being locked up in a place where they cannot escape and get onto the street. I think that dog attacks can be avoided and it is up to the owners. These pit bulls and their cross breeds are very dangerous. Dog gaming has to do with money but at the end of the day there is a law against it and as such it should be enforced. I am afraid of pit bulls and other vicious dogs but I would own one. I think that if you train them to be good they will be good.’
Monica McDonald, self employed
‘They should be restricted – that is being muzzled in public and not being allowed to breed. These dogs are dangerous animals and some of them turn on their owners. I am afraid of pit bulls and there is one that is sometimes loose in the Bourda Market area. These pit bull attacks are serious but I don’t like it when people speak out once something has happened. People should have come out and spoken about this issue from ever since. Dog gaming could be done with certain types of dogs but it should not be with pit bulls and their cross breeds.’
Jason Thomas, private sector employee
‘I don’t think pit bulls should be restricted because there are different types of animals lovers. So if some people love pit bulls, then that should not be a problem but the animals should be locked in a secure location with strong fences and be on a leash at all times. Pit bulls can be trained to be good. I have friends with these types of dogs and they are always well behaved. Just recently there were two pit bulls walking along the seawall unleashed and they didn’t attack anyone. They were also obedient to their owners. Dog gaming is cruelty to animals and it teaches them to be vicious. I think that this sport should be stopped immediately or the dog gaming law in Guyana enforced. Anyone found doing it should be penalized and the dogs given to persons who will love them as pets or use them for security purposes.’
Reard Shivrattan, butcher
‘I don’t like pit bulls or their cross breeds because I know what they are capable of doing. These animals should be locked up in a secure yard or pen. The owners know the danger of these pit bulls so they have to ensure that they are secured at all times. The recent attacks are alarming. The man that died was on a public road and it was not like if he was a thief. I am against dog gaming in our society and the law against it needs to be enforced with immediate effect. I don’t see the point in two dogs fighting.’
Tanis Haynes, clerk
‘This should be done in Guyana because the dogs killed somebody recently. They are wild animals and they are vicious. They have killers’ instincts and sooner or later they will attack and kill somebody again. The… dogs should be put down. Pit bulls and other cross breeds are known killers. People should not have these animals in their possession. I don’t like dog fighting and I believe that this is the main contributor to the incident that happened recently in which a man was killed. Once a vicious dog tastes blood, he will want to taste it again. Dog fighting should be… [stopped] in Guyana.’
Thandeka Watson, Marketing Assistant
‘I think that pit bulls should be restricted in our society for the simple reason that they are extremely dangerous. Owners need to realise the difference between these dogs and other ordinary breeds, and to stop being negligent in terms of how they secure these dogs and the type of doghouses they have. I think banning pit bulls or other dogs is a bit too harsh however. Stricter systems need to be put in place to control the behaviour of the dogs. People who own these kinds of dogs need to take it more seriously.’
Devon Williams, student
‘A lot of people want to have a pit bull, but few of them have the money to prepare the necessary secure environment that these kinds of animals require. I am a pit bull owner and I have ensured that I have a high fence and a proper kennel, and I only loose him at nights and even then he is attached to a long chain. It is alright to have a pit bull, but some people train them to be too vicious. Although the dogs are there to protect you, [it] does not mean you have to train them to be killers. Your dog should also be your friend.
I do not like dog fighting; I would never put my dog to fight even though I have friends who take part in dog fighting. I have even witnessed serious injury to dogs and humans at a dog fighting event. I don’t think these dogs should be banned but people who own pit bulls and other dogs should have to pay a fine when they do not have the necessary safety measures in place.’
Yelena Allen Housewife
‘I don’t like pit bulls I detest them. Make it better yet with the recent killings, I hate them more. It’s just like the cartoons: make one mistake and the dog will eat you too even though you are the owner. I don’t really think pit bulls should be banned though, because a lot of people like them but these people need to be more responsible. Look, somebody died as a result of negligence and if that was my family I don’t know what my reaction would have been. It was so shocking. They need to ensure these dogs are better secured. Have better gates, fence and proper pens, and when they are leaving home ensure the dogs are properly secured… People make money off of dog fighting. It is some people’s livelihood. But they need really good security so people would not be hurt. When the dog is trained to fight, it will want to fight humans when another dog is not around.’
