In recognition of Dominique Ahmad

I met Dominique Ahmad in the late 90’s through the late Mrs. Elsie Taylor and Dr. Steve Surjubally. Mrs. Taylor had phased out of running the clinic/shelter and passed the thankless responsibility to the GSPCA Committee comprising eight persons. Currently, Oliver Insanally is President and Dominique is Treasurer as well as the person in charge of running the day-to-day affairs of the clinic. From the moment I met Dominique, I knew she was competent and a person who takes her volunteer responsibilities seriously.

Management of the GSPCA shelter/clinic from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm five days a week, Saturdays 8 am to 1 pm, is not an easy task, even with a staff of nine persons. Daily activities include: picking up stray dogs and cats and miscellaneous other animals; responding to reports of animal neglect/cruelty; rehoming animals in the shelter; ensuring the clinic is stocked with necessary supplies; maintaining the bus and other tools and equipment; collecting food and feeding animals; organizing and executing spay & neuter programs; not to mention administration jobs such as record keeping; management of donations; on time AGM’s, and coordinating with international humane societies on diverse programmes offered. To carry out such tasks for a nice salary is one thing but to undertake such work on a volunteer basis for over 30 years is truly an act of love.

Just in the past 15 years, the clinic/shelter has spayed thousands of animals, found forever homes for thousands more cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. The shelter’s two inspectors investigate animal abuse, often in coordination with rescue groups, GLDA and police. As the work of the GSPCA becomes more effective, the demand only grows. For example, between May 2019 and June 2020:
– Total animals seen at the clinic: 10,042
– Cases of cruelty investigated: 162
– Animals spayed/neutered: 1,398
– # animals received that were re-homed: 11.48%

Dominique is not only running the shelter, she is also a mother, grandmother, wife, business woman, vet tech, and animal lover to her private collection of injured domestic and wild animals.
I’m proud to have been able to know and work closely with Dominique over the past 25 years. Too many, superwomen in Guyana are not receiving the recognition they deserve. I’m pleased to be able to share these thoughts. I ask each and every animal lover in Guyana to support the amazing work that Dominique is undertaking.

Yours truly,
Syeada Manbodh