Agri. Minister: There’s No Need to Fear, We’re Open to Extending the Period Josh

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – It’s been a little over two weeks since the amnesty period for dog owners expired.

Back in August, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources announced that pet owners would have until September 30 to license their animals under the amnesty.

The move came in direct response to a rise in dog attacks, with many people falling victim to dogs roaming the streets.

Officials announced that registration would be free throughout September but warned that enforcement would ramp up once the deadline passed.

Police were expected to issue citations, with a $250 penalty for unlicensed or roaming dogs and fines of up to $1,000.

Now that the deadline has passed, many dog owners are asking what happens if they have yet to comply with the new requirements.

Jomo Campbell – Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources

“There’s no need to fear or panic. We understand that in some cases the tags may have run out, and as long as you have your proof of payment in terms of a receipt, you have nothing to fear. And we understand exactly the constraints of lack of resources from time to time. We really did not anticipate the response that came, but we are pleased that happened.”

The lack of resources has been one of the major concerns.

Organizations like the Grand Bahama Humane Society have asked for the amnesty to be extended until January 2027 due to insufficient tags.

They say owners, worried about the new rules, began surrendering their dogs, raising concerns about overcrowding at the shelter.

Jomo Campbell – Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources

“September was a busy month. For some reason, it’s going back to school, and we only had one location. So we are looking at possibly expanding the locations so that persons can come in and pay and register their pets. And we’re definitely open to the idea of extending the period, just to give the public a chance to participate and take part in what it is we’re trying to achieve.”

In addition to a possible extension, Campbell says the government is also providing 1,000 additional tags.

And while concerns remain, he says residents, for the most part, have been cooperative.

Jomo Campbell – Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources

“The response was overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming. And the most important takeaway for us is that it was received throughout the entire Commonwealth. So while we did the press release, we saw that it was having an impact throughout the Family Islands, and everyone caught on and bought into what it is that we were trying to achieve.”