Humane Society Head Counters UK Story

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lifestyle

Saturday, 26 November 2011 02:30

By Eef Armstrong

Antigua St John's - A recent article in an UK newspaper about a stray Antiguan dog adopted by a British couple does not sit well with Karin Corbin, president and executive director of the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society.

Corbin wished the Booths would have kept the adoption to themselves, since she made an exception in allowing them to adopt the animal. “I don’t like it that people imply that Antiguans don’t adopt dogs," she said. "As a matter of fact, hundreds of dogs get adopted from our shelter on a yearly basis.”

Corbin said she regrets assisting Paul and Loraine Booth to adopt a black Labrador cross named Weber, which they shipped to England. “I should have never bent the rules, but the Booths kept calling and emailing me and they also had another couple that shared their hotel call me over and over in regards to adopting Weber," she recalled.

"The main reason that I gave in was the fact that Mrs Booth found out that her black Labrador, Merlin, had a cancerous tumour after she returned home, and later died. I felt sorry for her.

She was also determined to make Weber hers and believed it was fate that they met.”

The young dog had to be in quarantine in Antigua for six months before being put on a plane to go to her new home.

Loraine Booth told the newspaper back in the UK that the problem in Antigua with stray dogs is very bad, and the few people who are trying to educate people, rescue, and re-home dogs are fighting an uphill battle.

Corbin explained however that Antiguans do look after their dogs, but have a different relationship with their pets than, for example, Americans. She pointed out that Antiguans might not let their dogs sleep in their beds, but that does not mean they do not care for them or love them.

Corbin noted that tourists find it cruel to see dogs tied out in yards, but most yards are not fully fenced, and so it makes sense to tie the dog for its own safety. There is legislation in Antigua about tying a dog. The dog requires a proper collar, a 10' chain, shade, and water at all times. Antigua has two dog control officers and a third one on the way to make sure people obey these rules. “Dogs sleep 16 hours a day. Do you really think they mind being tied while they sleep?" she asked.

She pointed out that it would make more sense for people to go to a shelter in their country if they wish to adopt a dog. Most shelters euthanize dogs when they reach their capacity. The only time dogs get euthanized at the Humane Society in Antigua, however, is when they have an unsuitable temperament or are suffering from a serious physical ailment.


Antigua has a great climate the whole year 'round, which allows the Humane Society to tie its dogs outside temporarily instead of euthanizing them if the shelter reaches capacity.

"If people really want to help the stray dogs we have in our shelter, they can donate money so we can buy food, supplies, medicines, and neuter and spay them," she noted. "The Booths spent £2,000 on getting Weber to England. Just imagine how much help it would have been if they would have donated that to a shelter in their homeland."

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