THE Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) in response to an August 14, 2013, Kaieteur News publication on the death of an animal in the police pound at Den Amstel, said the animal, a goat kid, was caught with three other goats on August 7, 2013, at 16:23hrs on the Leonora Public Road, West Coast Demerara.

The animals were taken to the Den Amstel Police Station and were handed over to the pound keeper who impounded them.

On August 8, 2013, a caller, who gave her name as “Chico”, through a cell phone, informed the Ministry’s Stray Catching Unit Administrator, that she saw the stray catchers when they caught three goats belonging to her on the Anna Catherina Public Road.

She later went to the Den Amstel Police Station to redeem the animals and was unable to do so, because the police record stated that the animals were caught on the Leonora Public Road.
She was also informed that the ministry’s record also revealed that the goats were caught on the Leonora Public Road.

The ministry was informed that when animals are impounded at the Den Amstel Police Station Pound, the police ensure that the animals are provided with a daily supply of grass by a person contracted by the police.

Since veterinary advice was not sought, no proper determination could be made with regard to the cause of death of the dark brown and cream kid which occurred during the night of August 8, 2013.

The Ministry has written to the police advising that the cause of death of impounded animals be ascertained before burial takes place.