WESTMORELAND — The protracted problem of stray animals roaming the streets of this south western town seems to be coming to an end as the Westmoreland Parish Council has now started to pick up these animals.

The round-up began on July 30 when, according to pound clerk, Eathon Saddoo, he received 23 animals. Fifteen of these came from the Frome Sugar Factory and eight from the Negril area.

Saddoo said the pound has six pens and the cows spend five days in each area, as he has to rotate them to prevent overgrazing.

The council has long mooted the idea of the parish having its own pound to address the problem of stray animals roaming the streets. But the suggestion did not become a reality until recently when the Sugar Company of Jamaica’s Frome Division entered into a joint venture with the council to construct the facility.

Under the arrangement, Frome offered to provide the land and the council provided the additional infrastructure. The $1.3-million facility, which is constructed on six acres of land, has water, electricity, six pens and a caretaker’s house.

According to Saddoo, the removal of the animals is going to be ongoing and he said he expects more to be taken to the pound shortly. The council is responsible for the removal of the animals, but the Frome Sugar Factory also uses the facility to dispose of animals that are found eating the Estate’s cane.

Frome has been plagued by stray animals roaming its cane fields and has, in the past, complained bitterly about the impact it has had on the factory’s cane yields.