USVI-On-Line

I saw this post from the Tradewinds newspaper earlier today and unfortunately I have not been able to stop thinking about it all day. The photo of this severely infected injury of a bull is terribly graphic and he has GOT to be in serious distress.

My question is this, does St John or St Thomas have any kind of animal control officer? This animal needs HELP! I can understand if no one owns these animals that seem to roam endlessly, but at some point an injury like this needs to be addressed. I can't imagine it happened yesterday as it must take time to get to the point it's in.

I shrieked when I first saw the graphic image shown here and I warn anyone who is the least bit squeamish to PLEASE not look at these links. I chose to post links rather than place the actual photos here...

http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com/ima ... _bull1.jpg
http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com/ima ... _bull2.jpg

How can attention be brought to the proper people to help in this situation? I find it very difficult to ignore this!

That looked pretty bad.

Good thing they don't publish the pictures of people that are assaulted and murdered in the USVI.

I did not click on the link but believe I know the bull you are describing and it belongs to local on STJ (I won't post his name) - I called a friend when I saw this bull and she called him at once to tell him and he replied that he knew about it and that he had been that way for many months and that was all he said - I don't know what else to do

Maybe now that it has been bought to light someone might (hopefully) help in the best way possible.

Pia wrote:I did not click on the link but believe I know the bull you are describing and it belongs to local on STJ (I won't post his name)

Those cattle wandering STJ belong to people? They seem feral.

At one time (circa 1930) St. John had about 1500 head of cattle, mostly on 6 or 7 of the larger estates. The ones that remain all the responsibility of one person, and they are usually within a one mile radius of their home. Occasionally a group wanders farther afield. The VI Dept. of Agriculture does have an office in Coral Bay,and they should be able to help with this problem.

Thanks for the insight Pia and Hugo. Hopefully as more people become aware of the situation , The VI Dept. of Agriculture will take action.

Perhaps I watch too much Animal Planet, specifically Animal Cops!!! In the US, when you own an animal and do not give it reasonable care you run the risk of not only loosing that animal but any other animal you possess.

I would imagine that bull's days are numbered, but to allow it to succumb willfully without intervention is criminal. Yes, I know this is the islands, and rules are , eh, different.

I remember a couple years ago a local with some understanding of the bull up on Centerline Road all alone told us that he seemed to have been cast off from the "herd", and that was a bad sign for him. Maybe this is the same bull and he's been attacked.

If I know about this all the way in New Jersey, hopefully word will soon get to the people in Coral Bay to help this creature!

Is it possible that the bull is already receiving some type of antibiotic for this infection? I didn't read the article if there was one, but the pics are pretty nasty. Just thinking about the possibility that maybe he's already under treatment? The people of the Virgin Islands always struck me as the responsible sort, especially in matters of nature.

soxfan,

From what I can see in the pictures it would take more than antibiotics to help that poor animal. I doubt that the eye could be saved and would probably require surgery to remove it. I have seen cats, kittens, and dogs with much less trauma to the eye and their eyes had to be removed. They all went on to be healthy pets that lead normal lives.

AH

Thanks AH! I was just throwing that out there as a possibility...Sad pics whatever the case.