Beach dogs lead a precarious life in The Gambia. While the tourist season lasts they are tolerated around most of the beach bars (although not in the hotels) and get some food and water. Concerned tourists bring food and try to clean their ears and give them worm tablets. Some contact GambiCats and arrange for veterinary treatment or neutering. Some try to re-home puppies.
Out of season it's another matter. The dogs melt away from the beach wherever the bars and hotels are closed and it is difficult to trace where they go. Some do re-appear year after year but many vanish leaving those who remember them in better times fearing the worst.
Beach dog project
GambiCats was fortunate in having the help of Dr Jenny Remfry who, with
the financial help from Spana, undertook an
assessment of the population of beach dogs between Kololi and the Leybato. The
work was undertaken over 2 weeks, one in August 1999, the other in March 2000.
Descriptions of the procedure and findings can be read in Updates 3 and 4 and
the photos in the Beach Dogs' Parade speak for themselves!At the end of her report Dr Remfry made 7 recommendations paraphrased as follows:
1. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) needs to gather more information about the incidence of rabies in order to carry out effective vaccination programmes
2. The DLS should make clear to hotel managers the action to be taken in cases of suspected rabies, and DLS should be ready to respond
3. Hotel managers should be able to turn to DLS for help with other dog problems
4. Only veterinarians should make final decisions on euthanasia and have access to the necessary barbiturates
5. Personnel working with dogs should be vaccinated against tetanus and if possible against rabies. They need more training on dog handling
6. Local residents who regularly visit parts of the beach could help with dog management and AWAG may wish to help.
7. Legislation has to be in force to identify dogs and their owners to avoid abandonment of dogs. This needs to be in tandem with affordable veterinary treatment and advice on the welfare of dogs including neutering.
Dogs in general
The local practice is not to neuter dogs but to let them wander freely most of the time. This leads to road accidents, poor health, abandoned and lost dogs, animals suspected of being rabid being stoned, mistaken practices such as tail and ear docking being carried out by amateurs, and a generally miserable existence for the dogs often ending in death through untreated disease or hunger.
What can be done to help the dogs?
Since 2000 little progress has been made by the hotels. They are not willing to fund
veterinary or feeding costs, but sometimes notify GambiCats of problems with cats & dogs.
The DLS has had major budget cuts and re-structuring but has supported GambiCats'
neutering programmes over the past 4 years with staff help and the provision of the Abuko Clinic.
GambiCats will continue the neutering, microchipping and welfare programmes - for details
of Clinics see Newsletters 10, 14, 16, 18 and 20
Gambicats would like to provide local clinic facilities (see Clinic appeal). We already help with some veterinary costs for stray dogs and have distributed a large number of reflective collars to help avoid accidents after dark. Dodou spreads the message about neutering in his everyday work but we are also preparing educational leaflets which will be made available widely with the help of AWAG.
In the meantime we will continue to work with the few people in The Gambia who care for the stray dogs and help the beach dogs wherever we can.
ALL THESE AIMS DEPEND ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT BEING AVAILABLE TO HELP SUBSIDIZE VETERINARY TREATMENT, PRINT LEAFLETS AND BUILD THE CLINIC