Dear Editor,
The Georgetown City Council is appealing to all owners of animals ‒ cows, horses, sheep and other animals ‒ to provide appropriate accommodation for them.
The Environmental Health Officers have observed that animals are kept in such a way that it is a nuisance to the neighbours and the community. In some areas, horses are tethered to trees, posts, fences, bridges and other things, while in other instances, cows are left to roam freely in communities damaging the properties of neighbours. The results of the inspections at sites where animals are kept revealed that the accommodation provided was inconsistent with the Public Health Regulations.
The Division has taken legal action against several errant animal keepers and will take the appropriate steps against the others. This particular situation is prevalent in Lodge, South Ruimveldt, North Ruimveldt, Tucville, Sophia, Albouystown and McDoom areas.
According to the Municipal and District Council Act, chapter 28:01:
Every cattle-byre shall, for every cow, heifer, ox or steer or other animal kept therein, contain not less than 40 square superficial feet floor area, and 300 cubic feet capacity of air space, or less than two square feet ventilating space in window, jalousie, lattice or other opening to the external air.
Every cattle-pen shall, for every cow, heifer, ox, steer or other animal kept therein contain not less than 40 square or superficial feet floor area.
Every cattle-byre or cattle-pen shall be floored with concrete tiles or bricks laid in cement, or asphalt, so graded towards the “grip” or channel gutter at the back, that no liquid matter can remain on the floor. The “grip” or channel shall be formed with a proper uniform fall, discharging into the yard, drain or sub-main drain of the district.
The walls, if any, shall be made of impervious material other than wood for a height of four feet from the floor. The walls, if any and drains shall be adequately and regularly flushed with water and cleansed. Every cattle-byre or cow-pen shall be provided with a properly constructed and water-tight roof.
Every cattle-byre or cattle-pen shall be provide with a proper receptacle or dungstead for the reception of dung or other refuse.
Every such receptacle or dungstead shall be not less than 10 feet distant from the cattle-byre or cattle-pen and shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer. The dung shall be cleaned up as often as may be necessary, and removed from inside the cattle-byre or cattle-pen at least once daily.
Every cow-keeper shall cause each cattle-byre or cattle-pen to be kept thoroughly clean and disinfected with lime wash crude carbolic acid to the satisfaction of the inspecting officer. Such disinfection shall be done at least once every three months.
The inspecting officer shall report to the Town Council any cattle-byres or cattle-pens which he may find during the course of his inspections that are not in conformity with these By-laws.
It is very unfair and unacceptable for persons who have such animals to treat them so apparently without compassion or to disregard the importance of their health and safety.
Also, it is unfair for owners of animals to appropriate city parapets and open spaces for their horses without any consideration for their neighbours.
Chapter 145 of the Public Health Ordinance makes it very clear that:
It shall be the duty of every local sanitary authority to cause inspection of its district to be made from time to time to ascertain if any nuisance exists within its district.
For the purposes of this ordinance: – – Any stable, cowshed, pig-stye or other building in which any animal or animals are kept in such a manner or in such numbers as to be a nuisance or injurious to health;
– Any animal so kept as to be a nuisance to health;
– Any accumulation or deposit which is a nuisance or injurious to health.
Under the same ordinance:
Where a nuisance exists, which is liable to be dealt with under this ordinance, the local sanitary authority may serve a notice on the person by whose act, default or sufferance the nuisance arises or continues, or if such person cannot be found on the owner or occupier of the premises on which the nuisance arises requiring him to abate the same within the time specified in the notice, and to exercise any work and do any things as may be necessary for that purpose.
The local sanitary authority may also, by the same or another notice served on any occupier, owner, or person, require him to do what is necessary for preventing the recurrence of the nuisance, and, may in the notice specify any works to be executed for that purpose, and may serve that notice notwithstanding that the nuisance may for the time being have been abate, if
the local sanitary authority considers that it is likely to recur on the same premises:
Provided that—
(a) Where the nuisance arises from any want or defective construction or any structural convenience, or where the premises are unoccupied, or include a tenement, the notice shall be served on the owner;
(b) Where the person causing the nuisance cannot be found, and it is clear that the nuisance does not arise or continue by the act, default, or sufferance of the occupier or owner of the premises, the local sanitary authority may itself abate the same without notice and may do what is necessary to prevent the recurrence thereof.
The Council is urging all animal owners within Georgetown to pay attention to the regulations, and assist the Mayor and City Council to keep the city clean and tidy at all times.
Yours faithfully,
Debra Lewis
Public Relations Officer
