By Eileen Cox
It now becomes the duty of the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) to plead with Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, who has responsibility for consumer protection, to take action immediately to protect innocent pedestrians from being ravaged by pit bulls.
Before we call for the destruction of pit bulls, let us remember that we lived peacefully with these animals for years until one irresponsible owner of two such dogs allowed them to roam a street in Georgetown where they attacked a jogger and maimed him for life. The jogger went from strength to weakness in one day. He claims that he is now like a vegetable.
There have been numerous articles in our daily newspapers which will give the minister ample room to develop some policy for the problem which threatens pedestrians in Georgetown and its outskirts.
If we look at the headlines we will receive guidance on the course of action to take. The first move should be to have all owners of pit bulls registered. This suggestion was made by Walter Dipchand in the Stabroek News, June 2, 2008.
“The law should be changed to protect citizens against dangerous dogs.” This was Consumer Concerns in Sunday Stabroek May 4 this year.
The Sunday Stabroek editorial on April 20 dealt with Dangerous Dogs and referred to the law in the United Kingdom and to our Dog Act. .
The editorial in Guyana Chronicle on May 23 called for a definitive position to be taken on pit bulls. This editorial appeared two days after a man was scalped as he attempted to gather mangoes on a vacant lot. The incident was witnessed by Syeada Manbodh. In a letter to the press she gives a touching account of the incident.
An attack on a security guard in Ogle led to his death. If you have imagination, you can think of the man’s fear when he observed a pack of dogs howling at him and seeking blood. No consumer should endure the horrible death that he faced.
The most recent incident was the attack on a caretaker as he went to feed his pit bulls. This could be a matter for the Labour Department to deal with under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1997.
There are other letters that appeared on the issue of Pit Bulls. In Stabroek News on May 30 we may have been surprised to see the headline “Pit bulls are not people haters” The writer describes how these dogs love and obey their owners. Robert S Drepaul reports on June 3 also in the Stabroek News that the Dangerous Dogs Act of the United Kingdom is not fit for our use. But we already have a Dogs Act which deals with dangerous dogs.
Mr Randy Meredith in a letter in Stabroek News on May 23 reminds us that his parents had to renew a dog licence each year. What has happened to this requirement? He recommends a certain amount of training for control of pit bulls. Walter Dipchand in the Guyana Chronicle calls for education of pit bull owners. T. King on May 22 in Guyana Chronicle advocates that it is time to move against pit bulls.
It seems that pit bulls are kept by householders for protection against intruders. But the dogs must be kept securely and not be in a position to molest pedestrians.
When taken for walks on the seawall or on the streets it is suggested that they should be muzzled. Recently a pedestrian faced a large barking dog on a street. The owner stood nearby calmly watching. She had to appeal to him to take control of his dog.
Ms Manbodh claims that most of the blame for the recent dog attacks lies with irresponsible owners. It would seem therefore that there is need to determine whether a person is a fit and proper person to own a dangerous dog ,just as we determine if someone is a fit person to have a gun licence.
The ball is now in the court of the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Pedestrians are waiting anxiously for action to be taken. It is for the GCA to sit down with the Consumer Affairs Division in that ministry and make additions to the Dogs Act.
