Barbados Animal Rights Advocates Unite for Reform After Tragic Case Sparks Outcry

In a show of solidarity, animal rights advocates gathered to honour the memory of Sparky, a dog whose tragic fate has ignited renewed calls for reform in Barbados’ animal welfare laws.

The event, held Friday on Pebble Beach, featured passionate pleas from representatives of several animal welfare organisations, all united in their mission to combat the widespread neglect and abuse of animals on the island.

The gathering came in the wake of a particularly shocking case of animal cruelty. In September 2022, a video surfaced showing 28-year-old Davino Shakell Howard of a St Michael address, seemingly drowning his dog at Pebbles Beach. Howard was sentenced for wantonly ill-treating and causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, a crime he pleaded guilty to committing on September 13, 2022.

The video sparked outrage, serving as a grim reminder of the level of animal abuse in Barbados. Advocates like Lavern Beresford of the Be Their Voice Animal Charity believe cases like Sparky’s should prompt swift action from the government to enforce existing animal protection laws and prevent future cases of abuse.

She told Barbados TODAY that there was an ongoing crisis facing shelters and stray animals in Barbados. “All of the animal shelters are completely full, and we can’t keep having these dogs and cats multiplying because there’s nowhere to put them. It has become so overwhelming that we’ve been shipping dogs for years now to Canada, and now we’re shipping cats to the U.S. and to Boston because there aren’t nearly enough homes on the island for them.”

The vigil for Sparky brought together numerous animal welfare organisations, including Ocean Acre, Action for Animals, and Canine Friends, all advocating for stronger laws and more robust enforcement to protect the island’s animals. Beresford was also joined by others, including attorney-at-law Lalu Hanuman and representatives from the ARK Animal Sanctuary, who voiced their concerns about the deteriorating state of animal welfare in Barbados.

“We don’t just need to see a difference. We need to make a big change, a huge change. And the psychology and the cultural beliefs are what need to be changed… Barbados is reflected and perceived by everyone as a country where animal abuse is prevalent. And the question that everyone asks—why isn’t the government stepping in and helping to alleviate this situation?” she added. (RG)