Several animal rights organisations and activists on Friday staged a peaceful protest to raise awareness about animal cruelty in Guyana.
The protest was held outside of the Leonora Police Station, on the West Coast of Demerara, and was prompted in part by a recent video on social media of a local man, said to be from the area, killing a puppy.
The groups participating in the protest were Tails of Hope, the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Paws for a Cause, and the Rosewood Foundation, and their allies.
President of Tails of Hope Shari Rodrigues, in a Facebook live video during the protest, stated that the aim was to bring awareness about the unjust treatment of animals by some persons.
Rodrigues highlighted the importance of treating animals with respect, care and kindness.
She noted that the organizations will no longer sit by and allow animals to be beaten, abused and taken for granted, as she asked that animals be treated with kindness and compassion since their lives also matter.
The protestors held placards with messages about the importance of recognizing and valuing animals.
During the live video, Rodrigues mentioned a recent TikTok video showing vividly the senseless killing of a helpless puppy, with an audience unable to help. Rodrigues said the groups were also concerned about the act being committed within the sight of children and the trauma it may cause.
Additionally, she explained that while the video showed the killing of one pup, information received by the groups indicated that three puppies were killed by the perpetrator.
The organisations had previously called on the public to help identify the suspect, whose identity was later made known. The video clip of the incident was sent to the Guyana Police Force and the police have since made attempts to apprehend the suspect. They have been unsuccessful up to yesterday but have nonetheless committed to continue their investigation of the matter.
The protest saw a turnout of around 30 participants, who were physically distanced in keeping with the COVID-19 guidelines.