RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP
Owning a pet must always be a mutually beneficial relationship to both animal & guardian.
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There are many benefits:
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1. the joy of coming home to a loyal companion
2. decreased stress
3. improved heart health
4. increased physical activity
5. help children with emotional & social development
6. teaching responsibility
7. a source of comfort & support
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BUT!
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These benefits come with an even greater duty to provide compassionate & humane care for them
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GUIDELINES
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has laid out clear guidelines regarding the responsibilities of owning a pet.
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We encourage you to read & think carefully before deciding to commit to having a pet.
1. Care for your pet for the entirety of its life
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2. Choose a pet suited to your home & lifestyle
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3. Owning a pet(s) is an investment of time & money
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4. Keep only the type & number of pets you can appropriately care for
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5. Animals that spend time outside must have sheltered areas to protect their health, safety, and welfare.
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6. Pets must always have access to appropriate food, water, and shelter from extreme weather conditions.
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7. Ensure pets are properly identified (i.e., tags, microchips, or tattoos) with contact information
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8. Adhering to local laws regarding pet ownership, eg. licensing and leash requirements.
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9. Help to manage overpopulation by controlling your pet(s)' reproduction eg. through spay/neuter.
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10. Establish & maintain a veterinarian-client-patient relationship
11. Provide preventive (e.g., vaccinations, parasite control) & therapeutic health care for the life of your pet(s) through your vet
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12. Socialization & appropriate training for your pet(s)
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13. Prevent your pet(s) from negatively impacting other people, animals & the environment: do not allow pet(s) to stray or become feral.
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14. Provide appropriate exercise & mental stimulation
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15. Include your pets in your planning for an emergency or disaster
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16. Make arrangements for the care of your pet if you are unable to do so
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17. Recognizing declines in your pet(s)' health & consult your vet
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT
MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL & LEGAL AFFAIRS
“Animal” means any horse, mare, gelding, colt, filly, bull, cow, ox, steer, heifer, calf, mule, ram, ewe, sheep, lamb, boar, sow, barrow, hog, pig, goat, kid, dog, cat, or any other domestic animal
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79. (1) Any person who cruelly beats, ill-treats, starves, overdrives, overrides, overloads, abuses, tortures, or otherwise maltreats any animal is liable to a fine of four hundred dollars or imprisonment for two months.
(2) An animal shall be deemed to be overloaded if it is made to carry a burden beyond its strength, or after it is exhausted, the Magistrate is of the opinion that the load is unduly heavy.
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83. (1) Any person who—
(a) encourages, aids or assists at the fighting or baiting of any animal; or
(b) keeps or uses or acts in the management of any place to be used for fighting or baiting any such animal; or
(c) being the owner or occupier of any place, permits or suffers it to be so used, is liable to a fine of four hundred dollars or imprisonment for two months.
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(2) Any person who receives money for the admission of any other person to any place kept or used for any of the purposes mentioned above shall, unless the contrary is proved be deemed to be the keeper of such place.
84. A Magistrate or Justice may authorize any constable to enter any place used for fighting or baiting any animal and apprehend all persons who, and seize all animals which may be found there, and to take them before a Magistrate or Justice to be dealt with according to law.
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90. (1) In the case of any offence, the court may, if it thinks fit, order as part of its sentence that the animal shall be destroyed and its body disposed of at the expense of the offender.
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