“Recently, the MinTINO bureau, together with various rescue foundations and the KPA, received information about an extreme case of animal abuse. This case involves several dogs of different breeds under horrific and simply unacceptable conditions. We are sharing images of the dog that is currently in the most critical condition, after being subjected to extreme cruelty and abuse by its owner,” this is a statement Minister Ursell Arends posted on her Facebook account after the events of this week.
He wrote that these acts of cruelty and animal abuse are not acceptable, but they happen almost every day in our community. That’s why we are stepping forward as the ministry responsible for the welfare of our animals, using this case as an example to inform and show the community what happens in the care of our pets at home.
The animal problem here in Aruba is not just what many people think of as stray dogs on the streets, but it also includes the abuse and cruelty that many pets suffer in their own homes with no escape. Therefore, we are taking this opportunity to also mention that MinTINO is ready with its new approach to animals.
“Our Aruba Animal Welfare Management (AAWM) is a new approach focusing on the root cause of this issue that we see in our community, which is purely the abuse of our animals. We are moving in a more preventive direction to work on every level to prevent this issue from escalating beyond our control in the future.”
An important part of the new approach is that we will work on a new law (Animal Welfare Act) focusing on protecting our animals. This law will address all the points and problems we currently see in the community, correctly, adequately reinforcing this and structuring part of our authorities. Starting with this case.
“It is extremely regrettable to see that even in the year 2024, there are people in our community who think that animal abuse is acceptable. But we want to inform you that this is not the case, that the necessary changes and the support of our stakeholders will lead us to take action at different levels to improve the welfare of our animals on our island.”
In this same context, the ministry asks individuals in our community not to remain silent when witnessing animal abuse in your neighborhood. Report this to your local police and explain the situation clearly so that cases like these can be prevented and even prosecuted as soon as possible, saving the lives of our animals who live in suffering. There is no need to wait until the situation becomes alarming; action should be taken at the first sign of something wrong.
This animal problem is not the government’s, the police’s, or a foundation’s problem; it’s everyone’s who lives here in Aruba, and it’s up to us to make a change. It starts with you as a citizen being aware and showing more empathy to save our animals, who are also part of our society.
The ministry responsible for animal welfare will publish more information about the new approach to the welfare of our animals. For any information, please contact the Animal Control Center or ACC. You can find them on Facebook or call your local police to report if you notice any cases of animal abuse. Don’t remain silent, and don’t wait until it’s too late to report.
