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Cats & chicken poisoned in Baughers Bay; Are children's safety @ risk?

- is this cruelty to animals?
Chickens lie dead next to what is believed to be feed that was laced with poison. Photo: Provided
A chicken that was reportedly poisoned in Baughers Bay. Photo: Provided
A chicken that was reportedly poisoned in Baughers Bay. Photo: Provided
Food believed to be spiked with poison in the Baughers Bay area. Photo: Provided
Food believed to be spiked with poison in the Baughers Bay area. Photo: Provided
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- The issue of residents poisoning animals, including chickens, cats, dogs and even goats, continue on Tortola, along with reports of this occurring on at least one of the sister islands.

Last week our newsroom received reports and calls about cats and chickens being poisoned in Luck Hill on the main island of Tortola. Earlier this week we also got calls and photos about chickens and cats being poisoned in Baughers Bay.

Two residents called our newsroom about what occurred this week, where chickens and cats were poisoned in the area of Baughers Bay; however, what is more alarming to them is that in the area there are residential homes with young children who play outside.

One parent was concerned if children were to touch the poison and it ended up in their mouths what possible effects it could have.

When asked if the cats and chickens were stray animals, we were told many of them were privately owned.

It was June 2016 that Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) announced in the House of Assembly a strategic Feral Animal Control Management Plan to target roaming cattle, stray dogs, wild cats and chickens.

It is unclear whether the Feral Animal Control Management Plan is in effect as Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley declined to comment on it but referred us to Chief Agricultural Officer Bevin Brathwaite, who could not be reached up to time of publication.

32 Responses to “Cats & chicken poisoned in Baughers Bay; Are children's safety @ risk?”

  • Boo (21/04/2017, 20:23) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    So are they going to finally fess up and admit that they are the one's putting down poison bait to rid the place of feral animals and consequently killing people's pets?
    • Music (22/04/2017, 01:57) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      If so shouldn't they announce it in advance so peole can keep their pets etc indoors?
  • vi (21/04/2017, 20:43) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Shame on us
  • bird man (21/04/2017, 21:47) Like (1) Dislike (10) Reply
    we can use the animals for fast foods
    • Yo (22/04/2017, 10:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      They might be simply delicious...
    • @ bird man (22/04/2017, 16:32) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      We can use what for fast foods? In the article, they mentioned chickens, stray dogs and cats. If you want to eat cats and dogs for fast foods, you can eat them all by yourself.
  • pat (21/04/2017, 21:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm wondering if the BVI has the technical experts to test these animals to see the cause of death?
    • @pat (23/04/2017, 11:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Technical expert? Unless it is an evasive or unknown disease. The article said well suspected poison.Autopsies on human are done here every month. All they need is to do an toxicology and find the cause of death.
  • ReX FeRal (21/04/2017, 21:51) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Seize the time. Spill the wine.
  • small island (21/04/2017, 22:07) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    A sad piece, and this is not the real antidote to the BVI stray animals problems
  • de silent one (21/04/2017, 22:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too bad and so sad.
  • Simple! (21/04/2017, 22:27) Like (23) Dislike (10) Reply
    the hurtful thing is when you ask who they belong to, no owner comes forward. if you go to Police they can't help. You go to Agriculture they can't help. You go to your representative they can't help!!!!! The next thing is to poison the animals that are nuisances. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do...SORRY
  • Help needed. (22/04/2017, 08:16) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Stop by RTW. There are lots of Cats, Chickens and Rats. Apply some of that poison .. Too much.
    • @ help needed. (22/04/2017, 09:26) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Since North western come those pest get more vicious.. All of them are black pest eating up each other. U don't have to poison them. They are killing each other.
    • @Help wanted. Ask North Western. (22/04/2017, 09:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      North Western think all those black pess are thieves... The Cats, Chicken and Rats are all black pess that are thieves. Had high hopes on them. They are so disappointed. Surrounded and advice by set of failures..
  • no difference (22/04/2017, 08:30) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    Just so people poisoning the animals just so the ndp killing the people.
  • trrefdrfds (22/04/2017, 08:54) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    There are evil people in the BVI committing these crimes and the irony is they probably go to church on Sundays.
  • Animal Lover (22/04/2017, 09:16) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Send the stray animals and fowls to canada
  • dude (22/04/2017, 10:37) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    so chickens & cats are a problem now? we really lost ourselves in this place
  • visitor (22/04/2017, 10:48) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Shame, shame and double shame. It should never have to resort to this. I got sick to my stomach when I say this article.
  • Help (22/04/2017, 12:45) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is a program called PAWS that will nueter and spade ferrel cats and dogs for free, it it funded by good expats and volunteers , instead of poisioning Gods creature take them there.
  • Just saying (22/04/2017, 13:38) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well the ndp doing the same to the people
  • NezRez (22/04/2017, 14:06) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    A lot of stray animals, mostly cows, goats and sheep, are destroying people's gardens and property. I've had them destroy my veggies just as it was ready to pick for my dinner table. I've had them destroy my bananas, starfruit tree, mango trees, etc. Me complaining to the owners and agriculture fall on deaf ears. I cannot believe people get away with this and then when people are so frustrated they fight back, then there is a problem. Owners need to be able to get sued and agriculture needs to come out when they are called, and not when the animals have finished dining and left our properties, then it's too late. Pet owners should have control over their pets so they won't be poisoned just as all of the other animals that roam freely. Our island is no longer farm land from the old days and things have to be controlled. This has gotten out of hand.
    • 100% (23/04/2017, 09:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree completely. I am fed up of roaming animals destroying my garden and fruit trees. If they belong to someone they should be kept on their property or supervised when let out. This place is getting too lawless!
    • Just Sayin (24/04/2017, 08:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      poisoning cats will not stop goats from eating your veggies...
  • @visitor (22/04/2017, 19:22) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's your opinion. what you think is best to do? However, tortola is getting a much infested rat problem. Not only in the homes but outside in the brushes, neighborhoods, ghuts. One cannot fight them off because of others who decides to be unclean about their surroundings or businesses, too much undeveloped land that's giving them room to breathe. Oh well. Keep your pet's at home locked away, tied up penned up. I sure don't want to walk down the street and stand too long to feel a rat nibbling on my foot. when you look up in the air, rats are crawling on the electrical wires, in the fruit treess, cane fields, soursop trees etc. I can deal with the bats and the thrushiee but rats have to go. I sat in bars and restaurant just to see a big rat simply just swoosh by real fast

    Soooo What's the name of the poison.
  • Am glad (22/04/2017, 22:08) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Those of you who are not property owners could get on here and talk your rubbish but those who are owners know the perils of constantly having to deal with pests and stray animals. If it is your pet keep it within your property. How it is everytime I turn around your "pet" is on my property making a mess of my place. Since when rats are pets. I've always known them as pest. I need to hear of pisoning of cows cause this is a big problems of owners letting them roam while. If you don't have land to graze them you shouldn't have them.
  • ... (23/04/2017, 15:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tis time someone take action
  • Sugar (23/04/2017, 17:00) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I had some tourists follow me from the airport today all the way West, during that time we passed about 10 chickens. When we got to our destination the first thing they asked me was about all of thr dead chickens. I blamed it on road kill, which I kind of hope it was, bit part of me couldn't help but think it is poisoning. Come on BVI we can do bettrr than this, our tourist see this!!
  • Confession (24/04/2017, 18:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We all now who in Dnp Ndp this .

    Coughs doc p fess up


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