CARE are regularly inundated with emails from people who are leaving asking for help to find homes for adult dogs and cats, or we hear that the animal has been given to a staff member or colleague, who is likely struggling to make ends meet for their own family without another, pampered mouth to feed.  Among the worst cases encountered were pets left tied to balconies or released at popular nature spots in the vague hope that a dog walker might find them and take them in.

 We have to admit being amazed to receive so many requests from people that they are leaving and thus leaving their pets behind. Are your pets not part of your family to go where you go? Surely that is the reason to have a pet. Pets are not like vases or sofas to be left behind.  These animals usually end up at the Cayman Islands Humane Society (CIHS).  With so many animals already in the shelter, what are the choices?  Its not the Cayman Islands Humane Society’s fault that so many owners are so reckless.  Pets for expats all too often seem to be ‘things’ to enjoy while here then dispose of when leaving. More thought must go into why you take a pet on in the first place. Owners HAVE to be responsible. Cats and dogs live for 15 years or more so that’s the length of commitment one should be prepared to give.

Let us be clear that, even here in Cayman with little veterinary support, it is possible to arrange pet transport and to have animals micro-chipped so they can travel. We have friends who took their local stray animals with them when they moved first to one country and then another, and the animals seems none the worse for the travel!

What we find strange is the decision to adopt one or more animals, give them a good life for a while and then shrug them off on departure. We understand that for some people this is a difficult decision, and for others it’s “only an animal” – but can our consumerist society really have reached a point where we want a companion for the time we are away from home, but don’t feel the commitment to that companion to take them with us or leave them well-cared for?

In the event of a major hurricane approaching Cayman, many people opt to evacuate. However, pet owners have more to consider than their own safety and if they plan on travelling with their pet during hurricane season, it is vital to start preparing early.

There’s been some good news recently about the relaxation of import restrictions on dogs going back to Britain.  The six-month quarantine farce was scrapped some time ago (it doesn’t take six months for any disease to incubate), and replaced with a “pet passport” requiring only six month’s advance planning.  That has now been reduced to just twenty one days, meaning that anyone having to return to the UK suddenly won’t be forced to make arrangements to board their dog for half a year.  And no more relocation surrender excuses!