Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee officially launched the stray catching unit at his Brickdam office on Thursday.
The unit is expected to work along with the Guyana Police Force to contain stray animals. It comprises a 12-man team of drivers and catchers, and four trucks for transporting the animals to the pounds, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Provisions were made in the 2011 budget for the rehabilitation and building of new pounds for holding animals.
The Pounds Amendment Bill passed in the National Assembly in April 2010 provides that a fee of $5,000 is to be paid to a stray catcher or any other person for every animal he/she takes to the pound. These include horses, ponies, cows, sheep and goats. Prior to the amendment, the Act was revised in 2007, increasing the fee from $30 to $1,000. GINA also said that the ministry built and rehabilitated 17 pounds countrywide in 2009.
