PHILIPSBURG--The need for an animal shelter, steady sterilisation and tradition of cock fighting took centre stage when animal care groups and veterinarians met with Members of Parliament (MPs) in a Central Committee meeting of Parliament, chaired by President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, on Thursday afternoon.

The draft legislation for animal protection was also discussed in brief. MP Leroy de Weever of the Democratic Party (DP) asked for a closed session to be arranged with Animals Rights Foundation (ARF) President Monique Hofman to go through the articles of the draft law. He labelled some articles as "intimidating" and "prohibitive" for dog ownership among "locals."

The draft also seeks to prohibit organised animal fights – dog fights and cock fighting. While MPs were against dog fighting, several deemed cock fighting as an island tradition and were not in favour of banning it.

Independent MP Frans Richardson was very direct in his support for cock fighting. He considers it a part of the local culture and pointed to his 84-year-old grandfather as proof because he was still keen on seeing his cock fights.

National Alliance MP Louie Laveist said he didn't know much about cock fighting but as "a cultural person" he would have to view it as part of the local culture.

"I am an animal lover," declared MP Johan Leonard of the United People's (UP) party. He added that he used to love cock fighting, but not so much anymore. He like other MPs said the cock fighting has more rules than boxing and cocks were "fighters by nature." The latter statement was heavily contested by the animal care groups.

Caribbean Dump Dog Association and Animal Rights Foundation (commonly known as Animals R Friends ARF) are in favour of building and operating an animal shelter on the Dutch side. A similar shelter already exists on the French side.

Elizabeth Reitz of Caribbean Dump Dog said the Humane Society has offered to promote the country together with the French side once a shelter is established. That promotion will be a boost to tourism as the society has millions of members worldwide.

St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, represented by Public Relations Officer Heather Caputo, is more in favour of consistent sterilisation programmes targeting the female dogs and cats first. The foundation wants mandatory pet sterilisation up to two years old.

Caputo called for a breeder's certificate for people who want to have litters. This certificate should carry a high price.

Caputo, ARF President Monique Hofman, Monique Darmstaedter of Caribbean Dump Dogs and vets Dr. Gary Swanson and Dr. Chris DeWitt saw the need for a tagging law to better identify and protect animals. One idea is the introduction of a US $5 registration fee like in Saba for sterilised pets and a higher fee for those that are not. MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson (NA) agreed with the need for micro-chips as tags for animals.

Caputo said sterilisation would reduce the need for big shelters because there would be less unwanted animals. "A shelter is not the answer."

The groups and vets pointed to the need for animal control officers with the legal backup within the police force to handle animal cruelty and neglect cases.

Hofman said ARF does not believe in killing animals and sees sterilisation as a means to limit the stray and unwanted population. She said her group is trying to amass the funds to build the shelter with assistance from international organisations and the private sector. Government help would be required for the daily operations of the shelter that will also double as an educational centre for awareness.

Dr. DeWitt of St. Maarten Animal Hospital and Dr. Swanson raised the alarm about the diseases such as rabies and distemper that could affect the island if proper controls are not in place for importation of animals. St. Maarten is deemed rabies free, but with travel links to Haiti and the Dominican Republic where rabies is endemic, the vet said there is cause for concern.

Dr. DeWitt urged Parliament to ensure the country signs on to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This would have benefits for the country.