Trinidad and Tobago is awash with unwanted animals, some tame and some completely feral. Such animals are attracted to industrial compounds because there they find three key resources:

• food
• shelter;
• water.

The more of these resources available and the more accessible the area, the greater the number of dogs and cats living in the area.

Unfortunately, compound stray dog management is not simply a case of a group of volunteers walking in, locating a group of semi feral dogs, many of which may never have been handled by a human being at all, and removing them from site. Stray dogs often resist capture very successfully, because they have had a lifetime of people shouting at them and driving them away.

In the case of a large, unenclosed, compound, the chances of completely eliminating the stray dog population permanently and by humane methods are probably zero. This is because the area is not totally fenced and there are numerous access points of which animals can take advantage, such as drains and tunnels.

If you simply kill off the resident animals and create a vacuum, it will soon fill again

In the long run, unless one has a totally enclosed compound, it is more realistic to try and control and live with selected members of the stray dog/cat population than to try and remove the animals altogether.

In the rare cases where one has a completely enclosed compound, it may be possible gradually to reduce the resident dog/cat population to zero, following the humane methods outlined below. Inhumane methods do exist, but we completely oppose them.

Our recommendation in the case of unenclosed compounds would be:

• to accept that a given number of dogs/cats will always be on site, and that they may even be fulfilling a useful guarding or rat/mice control function; and
• to manage those that are present in a healthy and humane manner.

A compound stray management programme will be a time consuming process to which all employees must be committed.

Management Methods for Unenclosed Compounds

Appoint a salaried Dog/Animal Warden for the site, either a sympathetic employee with some experience of dogs/cats or someone from outside.

Duties of the Dog/Animal Warden

The entire workforce should be made aware of attempts to control the stray animals and incentives applied to ensure company wide cooperation.

Gradual Reduction/controlled manage-ment of the three key resources outlined above. This will allow the animal population to decline naturally over a long period of time, as the animals spend more time elsewhere.

Garbage areas should be fenced or boxed in so animals cannot gain access to them.

All staff should be encouraged to cooperate with a “no feeding” rule. This should be enforced gradually, so that the animals do not suddenly go very hungry.

If a few of the healthiest, better natured females were spayed they could then be returned to the site, where they would be unable to breed and where their presence would be a deterrent to other unneutered dogs/cats moving in.

Male dogs/cats could also be neutered as this makes them healthier and less inclined to fight.

Controlled feeding of a designated group of official compound animals should be carried out by the Dog/Animal Warden.

Steps should be taken to try and discourage more animals from arriving or breeding.

Prompt removal of most of the puppies/kittens born to animals that have not yet been spayed. In such cases, the mother could perhaps be left with one or two male offspring, who, with proper handling, feeding and socialization by the dog warden and compound staff, would probably find homes.

Arranging for any sick or aggressive dogs or nuisance dogs/cats to be put to sleep humanely by a local veterinarian. In the cases of animals that are difficult to catch, it may be a case of first habituating them to eating in an area that may be enclosed. This would facilitate capture.

Hand – shy animals may, with time, become tame enough to allow themselves to be approached, petted and handled; this is usually achieved by feeding the animals regularly and requiring them to come ever closer before food is dispensed. Once close by, animals can be accustomed to human touch. Once they will allow this, it may be possible to place a leash, or, in the case of cats or small dogs/puppies, to place them in a secure carry cage. If an animal is grasped by the scruff of the neck, it cannot bite. Muzzles, either proprietary or tape type, may be applied to nervous/aggressive dogs; a veterinarian could be called in to demonstrate good animal handling skills. Once captured, animals may be transported in safe, escape – proof transport, to the local veterinarian.

Remember, if a veterinarian’s services are required, he or she will need to be notified in advance.

Even with the assistance of nets and a dog grasper, it is often impossible to apprehend a dog/cat who does not want to be caught.

In extreme cases it may be possible to use tranquilliser tablets in dogs and let these take effect on the animals over several hours in the safe, enclosed space. Sedatives are not recommended if the dog cannot first be enclosed, because it takes several hours for them to become sleepy enough for capture and in that time the animal may disappear and in its drugged state fall victim to accident or injury. If you feel you need to sedate the animals call your veterinarian for advice.

Sedatives are less useful in cats, because they are less likely to eat food with medication in it and are more likely to move away afterwards before they become sleepy.

The above strategies will gradually reduce and control the stray animal population and in a totally enclosed compound may eliminate it altogether. Other, more drastic measures may be applied and we list some of these below, with our reasons for NOT endorsing them.

Inhumane Methods

• Suddenly stopping all feeding and watering of strays. If animals depend on a supply of food and water, suddenly to cut it off completely will cause distress (especially for any sick animals or nursing mothers). Such a strategy is unlikely to find compliance among employees sympathetic to the animals. If feeding occurs it should be gradually reduced. In time it should be possible to substitute a controlled feeding regime for a selected few official compound animals. (If animals are on site, and one is trying to treat them humanely, it is probably better to maintain a supply of water for them at all times. In the heat, lack of water will cause intense suffering more quickly than lack of food.)
• Poisoning. Whilst poisons will in some cases kill dogs and cats, the animal concerned will die lengthy and agonising death.
• Shooting. Unless done by real experts, this falls far short of humane practice and we would hesitate to endorse this method.

We know of no pest control firm that deals with dogs. However, as regards cats, Rentokil will supply humane cat traps in which the animals are trapped. They will then deliver the cats in the traps to prior to a veterinarian for euthanisation.