Many pets & stray animals perished during hurricanes Irma & Maria
The untold story is that of the high death rate of animals, including pets, livestock, race horses and stray animals.
Animal shelter struggles; many are dead
Our newsroom last week spoke exclusively to the BVI Humane Society Manager, Mr Vijay Bissoondatt, almost a month following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The killer storms took a big hit on pets, race horses and other stray animals in the VI, causing deaths and many injuries.
According to Mr Bissoondatt, the animal shelter itself was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Many of the animals were killed, including 4 rabbits, 3 dogs, 3 ducks and 2 iguanas. He said luckily before the storm many of the animals were evacuated to foster homes and after the hurricane upwards of 60 plus animals were sent to the United States because of links with the international animal rescue organisation there.
Some even reunited with their original owners who had left them at the shelter and had gone away.
Even the Animal shelter was looted
Sadly, after killer storm Irma, the animal shelter located in Johnson’s Ghut on the main island of Tortola was looted.
The Manager revealed to our newsroom that looters took "their generator, power tools, weed wacker and even a washing machine."
He said because of the severe destruction of the shelter, the only home in the Territory for stray and abandoned animals at this time, many of the new animals seeking a home following the two killer storms are turned away.
There are also reports by many livestock farmers of the loss of pigs, goats, sheep, pet birds, cattle and even a few donkeys. The Department of Disaster Management could not provide our newsroom statistics on the animals but instead referred us to the Agriculture Department.
However, it appears that the yard chickens survived it all.
Race horses on the loose
Ellis Thomas Downs, the home of the VI’s only horse racing facility, saw all the horse stables completely destroyed following Hurricane Irma. Many of the horses survived while two were reported killed as a direct result of the hurricane.
Those that survived the rampage of Hurricane Irma were let loose in the middle of the already destroyed track. However, many of the owners still bring food and water for them daily and other volunteer organisations also provide food.
For the injured, including those with broken bones, a veterinarian comes weekly to provide service and support, according to one horse attendant.
One horse owner, Lesmore Smith, has resorted to having about three of his horses in concrete paddocks. It is unclear when horse races on Tortola will ever come alive as the entire track has been demolished.
Another horse owner has constructed a stable and do the routine food and water for his horse, as well as walk the animal around the racetrack for exercise.
Through it all, many animals and domestic pets took a big beating. Some pet owners have reported their pets missing, especially cats and dogs since the hurricanes. This has added to their own stress in coping with the hurricane aftermath.
On Virgin Gorda, while there is no animal shelter, there are groups of volunteers that help with animal food distribution, along with animal care.
Government policy?
It is also unclear if the Government of the day has any policy in place to assist residents with their pets as famers have long complained they get little support from Government with livestock.
Dolphins have left Tortola
The other animals of interest to the Territory were the dolphins housed at Prospect Reef and run by the company Dolphin Discovery.
Before they hurricane they were relocated from their pen at Prospect Reef to a pool on the compound.
Following the destruction of Hurricane Irma they were all taken out of the VI and it remains unclear when they will be brought back. There were no reports of any of the dolphins being killed or injured.
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they find homes.