Editorial | Mongrels in the spotlight

Amid the small squalls rising from the quickening pace of COVID-19 cases and deaths and the uncertainty of the vaccine roll-out, there was an item of news which brought a bit of positivity to an altogether depressing news cycle.

It was reported that 144 mixed-breed dogs, styled Caribbean terriers, were flown by special charter to Canada a week ago. This international dog adoption programme was initiated by Tammy Browne, director of the Montego Bay Animal Haven. With 300 dogs under their care, a dwindling supply of food from the hotels and lack of funding, Browne reached out to a similar non-profit, Save Our Scruff in Canada, to take the dogs. Pet adoption has grown amid the social isolation caused by the pandemic in some places.

Browne reported that the dogs are finding good homes, and that persons are impressed with their toughness and size.

The story stirred the creative juices of Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora, and inspired memes and videos which have been making the rounds on social media. Hilarious in nature, the memes ranged from dogs in pearls and heels doing grocery shopping, to dogs lounging at poolside, and yet others at remittance counters, telegraphing what their new life may look like in their adoptive homes.

Browne was able to find a solution to her shelter’s problem, but we can only imagine the scope of the challenges facing animal-rescue organisations like hers. Caring for a pet, even without the frills, can be an expensive undertaking. The lack of centralised funding means these organisations rely on donors. With the current worldwide pandemic, it has made it more difficult to stage fund-raising events, or even to get donations from the usual sources.

It is conceivable that, in the future, even more pets will be abandoned as people try to stretch their resources and work their way out of this pandemic.

As with everything, there are critics. One social media commentator wondered whether it was a smart decision to move these tropic creatures from their warm habitat to face the harsh winters that Canada is known for. Questions were even raised about the dogs being sterilised, which sounded cruel to some persons. Yet, there were others who suggested that an orphan-adoption programme involving wards of the State would be a more worthwhile venture.

INTERESTING HISTORY

Of course, migration from Jamaica to Canada has an interesting history, spanning many years. History tells us it began with a few migrants landing ashore in Halifax in 1776. These early immigrants helped to build the Halifax Citadel between 1795 and 1800. Some Jamaican Maroons were also sent to Halifax in 1796. Over time, more Jamaicans arrived as part of a domestic programme, as railway porters and blacksmiths, then as students, nurses and other professionals. Today, a diverse group of Jamaicans call Canada home and there are various opportunities for more Jamaicans to settle there.

Just in case we are lulled into a false sense that the dogs are guaranteed 100 per cent safety, let’s not forget that there are abusers everywhere. For example, recent reports out of South Florida say a 40-year-old veterinarian was arrested on allegations of sexually-abusing dogs. The vet has been charged under a 2019 law that outlaws animal abuse – The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act. The vet is said to have had multiple photos and videos of images on his phone which depicted bestiality.

We salute Miss Browne and organisations like hers which are dedicated to bettering the lives of dogs and other animals by giving them food, shelter and a better chance of survival.