Dear Editor,

I had cause to visit the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) a few weeks ago, and was greeted by a pack of aggressively snarling common-breed dogs. In my limited interactions with government agencies, this is the first time that I have been accosted in such a manner.

I would like to inquire if this is some cost-saving security measure or if it is simply a situation that was allowed to get out of hand. Members of the public being accosted and sharing space with out-of-control dogs is not my idea of the image a service-oriented organizaton should be presenting.

I consider my stance towards animals to be neutral − I am neither a hater nor a lover of animals − and I get nervous on being confronted by a set of snarling teeth. And I think that it is ridiculous to assume that everyone is an animal lover (as opposed to being an animal/dog hater or simply neutral). The design of the security measures and access restrictions in the GFC compound lead me to believe that the animals are permanent residents as opposed to strays that have wandered in.

I would like to implore the GFC to examine this situation and try to recognise that there might be some discomfort posed by these animals to members of the public, and maybe even some of the staff. My suggestions for solutions are as follows:

1. Get rid of the dogs by having them adopted by various persons or moved to the GSPCA.

2. If getting rid of them is not an option, then the dogs need to have handlers.

3. If these dogs provide some security, then there is little that would be gained by having them there during daylight hours; they therefore should be kennelled during the day and released at night.

4. If security is the real issue, then get rid of the dogs (as in #1 above) and hire a guard dog and handler from a reputable guard service.

I would really not like to be accosted by these animals on further visits to the GFC.

Yours faithfully,
Ravindra Saul