By Sue-Ann Wayow
A VIDEO of woman walking a dog without a muzzle around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain has caused an uproar on social media with many questioning why the dog was at the savannah.
The video was posted on Facebook by activist and former political leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Alexander on Tuesday evening.
In the video that is three minutes and 30 seconds long, Alexander’s voice could be heard talking to the persons with the dog as members of the public jogged or walked by.
“I spoke to this guy and I told him there is a Dangerous Dog Act and that there are children around the Savannah.”
A woman who attempted to approach Alexander was told to walk away from him and that he was not looking for “any story.”
Alexander said, “I know enough stories about people who think, they could control dangerous dogs. There are countries in the world where that dog is banned from entering the country.”
The Dangerous Dog Act of 2000 lists dangerous dogs as: Pitbull Terrier or any dog bred from the Pitbull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro or any dog bred from the Fila Brasileiro and the Japanese Tosa or any dog bred from the Japanese Tosa.
Section 13A (1) of the Act states, “An owner or keeper of a dangerous dog who is fulfilling the requirements of section 5(1) or desires to change his place of residence and wishes to take his dog with him or transports the dog pursuant to section 13(6), shall ensure that the dog is securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent it from biting any person; securely held on a lead by a person who is not less than 18-years-old and who is capable of controlling the dog.”
The Act also states, “Except for the purposes of compliance with section 5(1), a person who owns or keeps a dangerous dog shall keep that dog under proper control in his private premises.”
Section 5 (1) of the Act states, “A person who owns a dangerous dog shall ensure that the dog is spayed or neutered by a veterinary surgeon within three months of the coming into force of this Act.”
