The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration plans to extend its dog licensing amnesty until the end of the year, with officials eyeing early January to intensify enforcement.

Director of Agriculture Dr Jason Sands announced the extension after revealing that more than $15,000 in fines had been issued for animal control violations during September’s registration drive.

He said more than 50 people were given citations since the amnesty period began, primarily in New Providence, for offences including dog attacks and allowing animals to roam freely or become a nuisance to the public.

Dr Sands explained that while the initiative exempted dog owners from penalties for failing to register their animals, enforcement of other animal protection laws continued.

He added that the ministry planned to use the remainder of the year to encourage more dog owners to register their animals before its enforcement campaign begins.

"We intend by the beginning of next year to issue a lot more citations," Dr Sands said, noting that these would include penalties for unlicensed animals and animals allowed to roam freely.

Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell described the amnesty programme as highly successful, revealing that registrations exceeded the ministry's expectations. 

This follows complaints that dog licence tags ran out before the registration amnesty ended. "The registration was oversubscribed. The public took full advantage of what it was we had to offer," Mr Campbell said.

He confirmed that the ministry was consulting with animal welfare organisations, including Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (BAARK)!and the Bahamas Humane Society, alongside veterinary professionals, about introducing a second phase to accommodate additional dog owners in New Providence and the Family Islands.

"There is definitely going to be a phase two," Mr Campbell said, although he acknowledged that its duration and other arrangements had not been finalised.

Dr Sands said the overwhelming response to the September initiative had exhausted the ministry's remaining supply of dog licence tags, while the large number of residents seeking registration services resulted in long waiting periods.

He acknowledged that operating from a single registration location had presented challenges and said the ministry planned to introduce a second site to improve accessibility.

"We are going to have now two sites," he said, explaining that dog owners would be able to obtain licences at either the ministry or the Department of Agriculture's office.

Dr Sands said the additional location should help ease congestion and reduce waiting times for residents seeking to comply with registration requirements.

Meanwhile, Mr Campbell stressed that the amnesty did not suspend the ministry's responsibility to enforce animal protection laws, noting that animal control officers remained active in New Providence and several Family Islands.

He said the public's willingness to participate and learn about their legal responsibilities was encouraging.

The government's Mission Pawssible initiative launched on August 31 in response to growing concerns over irresponsible dog ownership and a series of serious dog attacks, including incidents in New Providence and Bimini.

The programme offered free dog registration from September 1 to 30, encouraging owners to properly identify and license their animals, secure their properties and ensure their dogs were vaccinated and adequately restrained. However, the initiative came under scrutiny after licence tags ran out in New Providence and Grand Bahama before the September 30 deadline, leaving some owners unable to complete the registration process

The shortage prompted concerns from animal welfare organisations, with Humane Society of Grand Bahama president Tip Burrows reporting that some residents had begun surrendering their dogs over fears of penalties and concerns about keeping their animals properly secured.

Kim Aranha, chairman of the Animal Protection and Control Board, later recommended extending the amnesty until January to allow the government to replenish licence tags and provide further public education on registration requirements.