Councillor Dwight Crawford (Jamaica Labour Party, Spring Garden Division) is warning owners of farm animals in St James to seek proper spaces to house them or risk them being impounded.

“Get a piece of land that is zoned for farming. Farm land is a cheap option, it is cheap to lease,” Crawford urged residents of the parish who are raising animals in areas not earmarked for that type of use.

“Sooner or later you’re going to find that persons who are raising animals, whether cows or goats or whatever, their animals are going to end up in the pound if they don’t do it in an area that is zoned for such purposes,” warned Crawford, who was responding to concerns about an area within his division where it seems that cows are being raised in the vicinity of the Catherine Hall Sports Complex.

The cows have been housed in the space which is close to commercial and residential communities for some time.

“It shouldn’t be really happening because that area is not a farming area,” stated Crawford, who added that he believes the area is earmarked for commercial developments.

“The Pound Act is being looked at with this situation. We’re looking at it because of the potential of [raising the cows in that space] is becoming a hazard to residents,” Crawford told the Jamaica Observer.

He pointed out that the St James Municipal Corporation is doing a review of zoning laws and part of that will also examine how animals are kept in certain communities.

“We are looking at all of St James. It is a live conversation,” said Crawford.

He is, however, cautious about the immediate steps that can be implemented, insisting that some areas of the law need to be carefully scrutinised before actions can be taken.

This is not the first time that Crawford has made his voice heard in relation to matters involving animals and the spaces in which they are raised.

Last year, he expressed concern that chickens were being raised in the Bogue Village Housing Scheme in contravention of the rules.

Under the Pound Act, municipal corporations may appoint authorised officers to seize and impound any animal found in a public thoroughfare or enter into arrangements with a company registered under the Companies Act or with other people to seize and impound animals found in a public thoroughfare before or after the regular working hours of the authorised officers.