Determinants of the Level of Care Provided for Various Types and Sizes of Dogs in New Providence, The Bahamas

Mundle

Brown

et al. 2015

IJBS

Dogs inThe Bahamas have been documented since the time of Columbus, so dogs have been residents of the country for at least as long as our written records. While the term "potcake" has been associated with mongrel dogs in The Bahamas for some time, written references have been traced back only as far as 1970. Since then, the written word potcake has become relatively common. Potcakes, while reviled by some, are considered as quintessentially Bahamian by others. This paper attempts to determine if the potcake is unique to The Bahamas. Our analysis of potcake DNA from New Providence and Grand Bahama suggests that the importation of dogs has diluted the pool of any ancient potcake DNA to an extent that the Bahamian potcake, if it ever existed, is now either extinct or highly admixed. Some implications for demystifying this Bahamian icon based upon the current welfare offered potcakes are proposed.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the potcake is still offered less care than other types of dogs, (Fielding, 2009) its social standing has positive connotations such that elected officials appreciate that being associated with potcakes is positive to their public image (Miller, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using DNA to Locate the Ancestry of Today's Island Dogs of the Caribbean: The Case of the Bahamian Potcake

Mundle

Brown

et al. 2015

IJBS

“…As noted, in The Bahamas (Fielding, 2007(Fielding, , 2010, feeding practices vary according to the size or type of dog kept. Studies from The Bahamas (Fielding & Plumridge, 2005) and Dominica (Davis, Alie, Fielding, Morters, & Galindo, 2007) indicate that while many dogs are mixed-breeds, some dogs are considered breed dogs and so have some monetary value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dog Food Consumption in the Caribbean: A Baseline Study

Newman²

2013

Int. j. Bahamian stud.

Self Cite

Dogs in the Caribbean have been traditionally viewed as low maintenance pets which are fed leftovers from the household. Changes in the lifestyle of Caribbean families have resulted in changes in their eating patterns. These changes can be expected to have consequences for the feeding of dogs, which may require households to switch to commercial dog food. This paper reports the finding of a survey of groups involved with pets and animal welfare in the Caribbean conducted on behalf of the Pet Food Institute, a non-profit industry association. The study examined perspectives on how dogs are fed in the Caribbean and activities conducted to educate pet owners and the public. Use of household scraps and commercial dog food was associated with household income, except in the case of some high income dependent territories. The findings indicate that while many animal welfare groups in the Caribbean provide educational programs, not all of these provide recommendations on feeding pets and so they neglect to provide information on an important aspect of animal welfare.

“…While limited work has been done on what actions constitute cruelty, adult caregivers of dogs have a clear idea of abuse. This focuses on the provision of standard and enriched levels of care as well as the avoidance of physical harm to the dogs (Fielding, 2010b).…”

Section: Violence Towards Animals In the Bahamasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dogs are hit as a means of discipline, and while intentional harm of dogs is not widespread (Fielding, 2010c), its presence is a concern. Both the Bahamian media and Internet sites report stories of neglect and intentional harm of animals, and officers of the Bahamas Humane Society have a long experience of animal cruelty, which typically affects dogs (Rolle, 2009).…”

Section: Violence Towards Animals In the Bahamasmentioning

confidence: 99%

A First Look at Harm Toward Animals by Bahamians in Childhood

Oenbring

Brennen

et al. 2011

Int. j. Bahamian stud.

Self Cite

This paper reports on the first known study on childhood harm towards animals in The Bahamas. Using the Children and Animals Inventory (CAI), an Internet survey involving 1,558 respondents allowed childhood harm towards animals, to be investigated in the context of other violent behaviours in the child's home. The homes of children who did not harm animals were less violent than the homes of children who harmed animals. Consistent with other studies, males were more likely to harm animals than females; further, males were more likely than females to harm sentient animals. While the use of violence to train children was not associated with a higher CAI score, domestic violence and the presence of a gun in the home were associated with a higher CAI score. The implications of these findings as they relate to the treatment of living creatures are discussed.