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by pltm
(PLTM) - Residents continue to complain about the issue of stray animals on the roadways and on their properties, accusing the Agriculture Department of not doing enough to tackle the issue. Some of the complaints are coming from residents in Meyers, Great Mountain, Belle Vue, Josiah's Bay and Fahie Hill, among other areas. "They have become a great nuisance for us and it seems like it doesn't matter how much we complain, like with anything else, this government is unable to address it," said one resident. "What I am supposed to do, build a larger fence? Every morning there is dung to clean up and they come in and destroy the things in your yard," lamented another property owner. The department is being called upon to rein in delinquent livestock farmers. Deputy Premier and Natural Resources Minister, Hon. Dr Kedrick Pickering said that efforts are being ratcheted to alleviate the problem of stray animals through the implementation of a Strategic Feral Animal Control Management Plan. The plan provides the framework that involves actions to minimize the negative economic and environmental impacts. It also takes into consideration public health issues that can be caused by wild untamed diseased animals. Dr. Pickering explained that the goals of the plan is four fold---to reduce the wild fowl (chicken) population in priority areas, using efficient and applicable methods of control to limit the spread of infectious diseases and to reduce any negative impacts that they pose to the Territory; to reduce and eliminate the presence of roaming cattle; and to eliminate the number of stray dogs, firstly within the priority areas and then throughout the Territory. Further, to eliminate the wild cat population within the priority areas and then throughout the general Territory. As of June this year, the estimated feral population numbers within the Territory were---dogs 1500; cattle 500 (owned but roaming); fowls (chickens) 5000 (approximately); and cats 2000. "While it is difficult in most cases, if at all, to identify the owners of the smaller animals such as the dogs, cats and chickens, we know in almost every case the owners of the cattle. Therefore, I am asking that these owners act responsibly and contain their animals as they are creating unnecessary problems for their neighbours and for the Territory as a whole," the Natural Resources Minister pleaded. He said, "If the issue is fencing material, please visit the Department of Agriculture and discuss your particular situation with the Chief Agricultural Officer. This is currently a very serious problem, but with a little effort from all concerned, we can and will reduce the feral population."
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