The Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) yesterday urged concerned citizens to make their voices heard on animal abuse, saying that it needs to be placed under the national spotlight for it to be stamped out.
Its call follows the recent slaughter of dogs at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, which the GSPCA’s executive and membership found shocking and disgusting. “Outrageously cruel acts such as these reveal the lowest depths of inhumanity,” it said in a statement.
The GSPCA noted that there is a fairly well-established link between those who perpetrate such atrocities on hapless animals and a tendency to commit other violent offences, including homicides. As such, there is a great need for concern, it said.
The group called on witnesses in the matter to come forward and testify, so that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
The GSPCA also urged the Guyana Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation and to take whatever measures necessary to ensure that the perpetrators will face the full repercussions for the criminal acts.
Last Friday, a gang of 12 persons entered Beterverwagting wielding cutlasses, claiming that dogs had killed and eaten their goats. Eyewitness said they arrived on a motorcycle, bicycles and some on foot. These individuals, the witness said, chased about eight dogs into the seawall area and killed them.
This was not the first slaughter of dogs that had taken place.
On Thursday, two men, Akbar Ali and Steven Parsram, were remanded to prison on a charge of dog-slaughter that was allegedly committed on a pet in the area during the attack. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges, when they were read to them at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Judy Latchman.
