SAGA Assists in the Enforcement of Laws for Stray and Nuisance Dogs

Every year rumours of a dog ‘eradication’ fly around San Pedro. Pet owners, conservationists, locals, immigrants and tourists all get very upset that dogs may be poisoned and letters are written to the Town Board and local newspapers asking for an alternative solution. The good news is that SAGA Humane Society and the San Pedro Town Board have come to an agreement that will be great news for the people and animals of San Pedro and avoid the need of future eradications via strychnine poisoning.

SAGA Humane Society and the San Pedro Town Board have worked together informally for several years to try to address the problems caused by irresponsible dog owners in San Pedro. These are the owners who allow their dogs to wander on the streets, causing a nuisance to others. This irresponsible behaviour leads to complaints to the Town Board and they have no option but to do their job and deal with nuisance animals. Fortunately, the vast majority of dog owners in San Pedro are responsible and will welcome this new initiative to make San Pedro a happier place for people and pets.

SAGA Humane Society has been given the authority by the San Pedro Town Board to act as Dog Catcher and Pound for the San Pedro area and to enforce the Control of Dogs Act 2000 (Chapter 153). SAGA Humane Society will be working hand in hand with the Town Board, Police Department and Health Department to collect strays, investigate reports of nuisance, neglect and cruelty and set fines for those in breach of the law. Section 15 of the Control of Dogs Act 200, allows the collection of fees and fines and it is hoped that by enforcing this law, San Pedro will become a cleaner and happier place for all. These laws have been in existence for many years, but because San Pedro is growing in population and the complaints about irresponsible dog owners are increasing, they must now be properly enforced. By introducing fines, these will act as a deterrent while helping SAGA to fund this service to the San Pedro community.

Pet owners and non pet owners have to suffer with the problems caused by the minority of irresponsible dog owners. Dogs owned by irresponsible owners foul in public places causing a mess and health hazard, they chase bicycles and golf carts, turn over garbage cans and bark and fight in the night. What many don’t know is that dogs are not allowed to be wandering in the streets during the day or night and should be safely and humanely secured by their owners.

According to the Dogs Control Act 2000, which is the law in Belize, dogs that disturb the peace by persistent barking, dogs that are loose in the street, dogs that chase people and dogs allowed to toilet on public or private property – unless the mess is immediately removed by the owner – are all considered a nuisance and may be seized and the owners may be fined. If your dog is seen loose in town, on the street or in a public place without a collar or without an owner present, it may be considered a stray and picked up by the Dog Catcher. If you have a female dog that is in heat in a public place and she is not on a lead or being carried, she may be seized. If your dog is suffering from illness or injury and is not being carried or on a lead, it may also be seized.

It is an offence for a dog owner to allow their dog to be loose in any street or public place and dogs must be under the owner or handlers immediate control if they take their dog off their property. This means that owners should have a collar and lead with them when walking their dogs and not allow their dog to become a nuisance or disturbance on walks, supervising them closely at all times.

SAGA Humane Society is already authorised to charge fees for the return of wandering dogs to their owners. Right now, if SAGA is forced to seize a dog that has been neglected or allowed to become a nuisance or stray, the owner will have three days to collect the dog and pay a fine, which will be $50 + $10 per day. After that time, the dog will be owned by SAGA Humane Society and may be rehomed or, if there is not sufficient space at SAGA’s shelter or the dog has been assessed as not adoptable, it may be euthanased humanely. A more comprehensive set of fines regarding owners who allow dogs to wander and create nuisance, as well as for owner who abuse or neglect their dogs, is being introduced in accordance with details set forth in the Dogs Control Act and will be published and enforced by the beginning of 2012. Posters and articles will be appearing around San Pedro and in the paper advising the public of the specific procedures and fee schedules.

SAGA Humane Society is appealing to the public and local dog owners to help them enforce these laws, which are designed to maintain public health, reduce nuisance and to protect dogs from cruelty and neglect. Your support will help to prevent the Town Board from being forced to resort to eradications with poison to control loose dogs and the deal with nuisance they create. Please remember that SAGA Humane Society provides this important public service with no financial support from the government.

If you have any questions about the laws relating to dogs or animal welfare or if you would like to contact SAGA about animal cruelty or neglect, please call SAGA on 226 3266.

Finally! No more threatened poisoning by SPTC...

This is wonderful news. I think SAGA never gets enough kudos and recognition for all they do. We THANK YOU SAGA for your involvement and efforts to save the animals of AC!

Ditto ditto ditto! SAGA rules.

I have just witnessed a horrific scene. A pack of maybe 9 dogs, all without collars, attacked a small dog being walked by its young owner on a leash.
People hit the dogs and tried to scare them away but they kept coming back to attack the little dog. These dogs are always around by Marinas store.
SAGA’s dog collection policy is obviously not working, I know that members of SAGA pass this way often and the dogs are always there.
If you could have seen the look of terror on this little girls face as her dog was being attacked it will stay with her for a long time.
If rabies ever got onto this island we would be in trouble with the amount of stray and loose dogs on the streets.
Every morning there is garbage all over the streets where these dogs have ripped open the bags looking for food.
If this would have been my dog being attacked, there would be 9 dead dogs.
It is time for some strong measures to be put in place to control these wild dogs. If that means eradication then so be it.

Volunteer your services to help SAGA pick up those dogs. Just because they pass that way often doesn't mean they have the time or resources to pick up those dogs. The program is new, give it a chance.

It is not an easy job. Get out there and see how you handle being surrounded by a bunch of angry guys threatening you while you pick up their dog... Those girls have more balls than most guys you will ever know.

I'm so sorry for the little girl and her dog. That's horrible, but please Mcplus, blame the owners not SAGA. SAGA does not own the dogs, nor did they set the dogs upon the little girl and her dog. They do their best, struggling with very few resources, very few volunteers and no financial support from the government. You are right to be outraged that irresponsible dog owners would allow their dogs to do this, but it is extremely unfair to call out SAGA, who are a voluntary, non profit, trying to deal with a long term problem. They have just started to work with the Town Board on this issue. If you care so passionately about this, as you seem to, please go down and donate some of your time and money. I'm so sorry that you advocate poisoning as a method of dealing with irresponsible dog ownership. It does nothing to deal with issues relating to irresponsible dog ownership such as the awful scenario you just witnessed. SAGA are only stepping in and trying to assist in a humane and effective manner, where nothing has been done previously. Please try to help. Don't try to damage a very important voluntary, non profit organisation that our community depends on.

When I grow up I want to have collyk's eloquence...

I was not blaming SAGA; just saying that there dog collection does not seem to be working.
The issue of stray dogs always raises some passionate views. I am a dog owner, I like dogs, but dogs’ running wild on the streets is not good for anyone.
What if next time it’s a child they attack, they have attacked or bitten lots of people in the past.
A motorcyclist was knocked from his bike by a Pit bull last week and received cuts and damage to his Motorcycle. The owner could not be found and the dog still roams the streets.
At night you cannot walk the streets without getting molested by dogs. All dogs on this island should be fixed that would do a lot to control dog problems, also a license to keep a dog would help pay for services like SAGA. If everyone who had a dog had to pay $5.00 a year that would amount to a good deal of money, considering the number of dogs here.

McPlus. They cannot pick up every irresponsibly owned dog in town within a matter of days. Where do you think they would house the dogs? Where do you think they would get the people power or other resources. All of those things that you mentioned are a real problem caused by irresponsible owners. The best way that you and others who care can help is by supporting SAGA with your time and money. Fixing all the dogs would be great in an ideal world, but someone has to pay for that. Licensing would also be great, but someone needs to fund the administration and enforcement of such a programme. If you want to see change, please go to SAGA and offer your assistance. They'll be grateful I'm sure.

Again, I say, get involved with SAGA. You will begin to understand the complexity the politics, the hard work and the frustration of trying to solve these problems. Do you have any understanding of how many years (over a decade) that dog licensing has been discussed and the walls of resistance it has met?

I should also mention that it's a thankless job. Many bitch but VERY few step up to the plate.

I have been here for 23 years and the dog problem has been getting worse each and every year. I dont have the solution to the problem, I dont think anyone has. As for getting involved with SAGA, if I got involved with every organisation dealing with probelms on this island, I would have no time to work. I was just venting my anger at what I had witnessed. Lets just leave it at that.

I hope you were not meaning me when you said "Bitch"

Something we can look forward to

There is a couple that drive their golf carts into our neighborhood every morning as their dogs run alongside. Their dogs hassle our neighborhood dogs, that are all confined indoors or within the yard. So every morning around 5:30 the whole neighborhood is disturbed. On many occasions my friends have talked to these folks asking them to leash their dogs as the run up and down along then fences tormenting the dogs that are in their yards. It's a circus. Of course the response is - we are San Pedranos, we can do what we want with our dogs and run them wherever we want to. Well these dogs are a nuisance. As soon as Saga and the town board are ready they will be getting names and hopefully those folks won't mind being told what the leash laws entail and the fines involved.

In my 'hood just about everyone has at least one dog. But at night you can hear a pin drop because we don't let our dogs wander around getting up to mischief. They are home and happy. We do have a couple of dogs that assist with our patrol team, I consider the. Our early warning system. When they bark it is because a person or animal does not belong. The don't chase bikes or bark at the residents or folks going about their regular business. I am grateful everyday that we have such considerate neighbors.
Hooray for Saga, keep up the good work. It won't all be resolved over night but I will be glad when we can walk the streets and beach and parks without dancing around dog poo - and when I can walk my dog on a leash without the fear of her being attacked by a pack of unrestrained dogs. Many of my friends don't walk their dogs because of the fear of attack.

Hopefully the new educational info will help with the understanding that society needs to be safe and that means that we all need to follow the rules.

Unless I have specifically stated a name it's a generalization.

Animal regulation and leash law enforcement is truly a thankless job...it's an occupation that puts the enforcing agent in immediate conflict with "The Homeowners Inviolate Three: Dont screw with my family, my house, or my pets...and not necessarily in that priority".

Given what people have said about the number of animals allegedly in violation of leash laws, I wonder if SAGA could even deal with the volume of strays it would be picking up in a concerted effort.

My respect, regards and sympathy for the folks at SAGA. In fact I believe a donation is in order.

On the flip side of all that is state above, is the continuing and absolutely reprehensible practice of individuals poisoning other people's dogs. There has been a run of this up north (4-6 miles north of town) this past week. One of our neighbor's dog died a horrific death a week ago from poisoning and one of our dogs died a similar death early yesterday morning (despite the heroic, round the clock efforts of Dr Laurie to try to save her, thank you.) There is a special place in the bowels of hell reserved for individuals who do this. Trust that if I ever find who is responsible for this, I'll be their personal chauffeur to said destination.

RE: Bear, thank you for so succinctly summarizing the "Homeowners Inviolate"... I think I will have that made into a sign for our front yard, but perhaps not worded so politely.

To add to what Collyk has stated above, unfortunately the problem ultimately sits with the owners. Saga and SPAH can only do so much, and it is foolishly optimistic to ever think that town will do anything. (Licensing and such is not a solution... I mean please, the town is unable to effectively oversee subjects that in theory ARE considered a priority, ex: taxes, let along things not considered a priority.) So the solution lies in educating the masses... Good luck.

Oh, Jeff, I am so sad to hear that. My heart still hurts thinking of my dear little dog (Ms Kitty) who died in my arms last February. Someday, someway, somebody is going to spill the beans and we will have retrobution. I have all kinds of tortures in mind.

These poisonings leave me sickened beyond belief. My deepest sympathies to those who have lost pets this way. I read the tribute to Savana in the San Pedro Animal Hospital's blog today, and it made me weep.

We all hope that the thugs who do these things will eventually be brought to justice, but that won't bring your beloved dogs back.

I'm so sorry...
Emily

Oh no! Jeff, I am so terribly sorry for your loss. That is so, so sad. Just terrible.

I disagree 100% with the allegation that the dog problem has gotten worse every year for 23 years. IMHO that claim is preposterous.
SAGA has done a lot of good and continues to do so.

It might also be noted that people who torture animals are generally violent to people as well - these are dangerous sickos on every level.

It seems to me that a lot of posters here have lost the plot.
After my initial post only ONE person was concerned about the little girl who had watched her young dog being attacked. SAGA is doing a good job but the problem maybe to big for them to handle. My only concern ONCE again, was the little girl.

Of course we care and are horrified about the little girl's dog being attacked. It is disgusting. We know of pets on leashes that have been attacked and killed in this manner. The only agency around that will help is Saga. So they need all the help and assistance that they can muster. It has taken decades to get past the whole dog poisoning method of culling the strays. And many of the "strays" belong to irresponsible pet owners. As Simon said, have you seen the Saga volunteers trying to reason with irresponsible pet owners? We need a little Man Power out there to give a little support. A few hours a week here and there. I feel sorry for the little girl, her pet, and everybody on this island that has to deal with the side effects of having to live with irresponsible pet owners.

Jeff, You've accurately sussed the original wording. On my next drive north I guess I'll know which place is yours. Sympathy and condolences on the loss of your family member.

I agree with Diane.
When I first came here there were sick and dying dogs all around town.
The other problem here is that everyone talks about 'irresponsible dog owners.' It seems to me that most of these PROBLEM and DANGEROUS dogs are not owned by anyone. If they are running the streets and eating garbage I would say they are STRAYS and should be eliminated.

Instead of telling people to donate time and money to SAGA how about suggesting that they collar a dog and take it into SAGA. Then perhaps pay the cost of euthanasia. What would that cost be?

To be fair and safe have a form that could be signed stating that you know this to be a stray. That would relieve SAGA of possible claims of putting down an owned dog.

On another note. How about a program of education about spaying and neutering. The local (men especially) make it a personal issue. They seem to think it makes the dogs unhappy. Humm – maybe this education needs to be raised up to the human level as well. --- Don't attack me – just saying . . .

But if you rope the wrong dog and Saga puts it down then who is going to take the brunt of the anger when the "owner" shows up.

Saga isn't in the habit of putting down owned dogs.

How can you ascertain which animals are stray.

It's gonna be an uphill struggle at every level.

Gotta agree with Amanda here...

My wife and I were down a couple of weeks ago and made a $1000 donation to Saga to be used for spaying and neutering. Anyone care to match the donation?

Come on Amanda - Those of us who live here and witness the same scraggly dogs day after day in our neighborhood know when a dog does or does not belong to someone. Heck – we even know dogs from the other end of town. Most of the SAGA staff even knows dogs by their name too.

Since we are preaching for 'owners to be responsible' how could they have a legitimate claim if one of their unidentified dogs is taken in? I am sure SAGA will always err on the side of caution. That's why I suggested they have a form whereby the person who brought in the dog would have to sign. This way - if my neighbor was just p..s.ed at me s/he couldn't anonymously destroy my pet.

We do like to complain about our dog problems but so many tourists love how our dogs behave here.
How many of them 'adopt' one for the period of time they are here? How many of them make big fusses over our pot-lickers on the golf carts? Because our dogs are like our children and part of the family and not locked up and left at home they are way more socialized than US dogs. When left to sniff out each other they usually make friends and relax. Tourists are impressed.

Maybe we should take lessons from the dogs! (come here – I want to smell you – where you been – what did you have for lunch – who did you sleep with - ????) LOL

My dog is locked up at home, she is socialized with pampered paws, on a leash and then returned home. My neighbours and I all have dogs and love our pets and we all respect each other's boundaries and tolerance to noise.

I don't think it is cute to see stray animals wandering the street and beaches, pooping and humping and digging through garbage cans along the way. I think any dog that is allowed to run freely out of the control of their owner belongs to an irresponsible owner.

I think any dog wandering the beach or street without an owner is a stray.

But that's just me.

No it's not, Amanda. I'm with you. And I am sure there are others!

Emily

Amanda - You are talking about the extreem and I don't think any of us like that. There is a middle of the road - so to speak.

The problem with middle of the road is that the whole area is grey. When things get difficult people flip flop over the fence.

But I respectfully bow out of this conversation now - its not going anywhere.

I hope that generous donation goes directly to costs of spays and neuters...as I have said before and as the daughter of a vet that practiced for 50 years here in California, it is people that create this world wide problem.

With all due respect, ScubaLdy...... your dogs are a problem when they are not restrained by a fence or otherwise. It was not fun nor was it cute when they chased my golf cart recently as I rode by with my new puppy and dog. Maybe they were just trying to get to know them? Hmmmm

With a new pup living north of the bridge, I have had to be very very careful walking him, often picking him up when we go past certain chronically "problem dog homes". All of which has given me a new appreciation for SAGA and what they do.....

"To be fair and safe have a form that could be signed stating that you know this to be a stray. That would relieve SAGA of possible claims of putting down an owned dog."

Been done for years.

"On another note. How about a program of education about spaying and neutering."

Been done several times.

Be informed before making assumptions.

Thank you for the generous donation to SAGA - you've put your money in a good place.
As a resident of SP I am most grateful.
I don't have $1,000 to match your donation today, as we're headed to the Liberty Children's Home auction on Sunday and plan to make some bids there.
As always, SAGA is on our donation list tho - and in our wills.
Think about pre-planning a donation that way ......

Not everyone can afford to give $1000 to SAGA, but some can afford $100, and even more can afford to give $10 or a few hours of their time. I have donated to SAGA several times. It's a great cause and good folks.

Emily

Even just a couple of hours a month to walk the dogs would be so gratefully appreciated.