Animal rights group furious with painting of dogs

The Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) has reacted with fury to videos which show animals being painted to show allegience to political parties.

Yesterday, on nomination day, a video of a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter painting a dog began circulating online.

Pamela Lawson, general manager of the JSPCA, deems such practice unacceptable.

"I actually saw two videos ... . I saw one come up on Saturday or Sunday... one of the dogs is being sprayed and one of them is being 'hand painted', and I'm hoping it's with non-toxic paint and it's water paint. Because what will the animal do when it's trying to groom itself?" Lawson questioned.

"The animal is going to lick itself. It is unacceptable. Would you take your child and spray-paint it or paint it green? It borders on lunatic."

The JSPCA has been working in Jamaica for more than 100 years and its main mission has been to promote the compassionate treatment of animals through education and advocacy.

But this seems far-fetched, as Lawson has been seeing the opposite when it comes to elections locally.

"I said to one of my vets that I'm pretty sure last election I remember an orange dog being at one of the gatherings. There are people with their poodles, white dogs, who would actually go to the groomers and have them dyed in the colour. I don't like that either, but it's far better than using spray paint or a paintbrush and painting your dog," she said.

Pointless and unkind

Lawson says persons can support their parties without harming animals.

"I consider this the silly season. It's pointless and it's unkind. There is nothing wrong with wanting to support their party. I have no problem with it. But there's no excuse for them to be taking an animal that cannot say yea or 'nay'. The animals were quite content. They were probably adoring the attention. There was no struggle and there was no fighting. The dogs were adoring the attention, but they don't know better," she said.

"It all boils down to the leaders of the parties and the candidates. They need to guide their supporters, because they know they are prone to doing the most amazing things."

The JSPCA has been trying to amend the 1965 Cruelty to Animals Act and the Pound Act by seeking an increase in the fines and asking for more authority to take suitable actions against those who inflict harm, pain or suffering on animals.