Dog Poisoning Tragedy: Two Years On, Justice Still Eludes Grieving Pet Owners
On 6 April 2023, Seychelles woke up to one of its darkest days in recent animal welfare history. Along the dusty roads of Providence, lifeless bodies of dogs—stray and beloved pets alike—were found strewn across the streets. The images, once shared widely on social media, still haunt those who witnessed the horror firsthand.
A white van, reportedly seen collecting the bodies that morning, has since become the symbol of an unanswered question: who ordered this, and why?
Two years later, no one has been held accountable. And while the initial shock has faded from headlines, the grief, anger, and calls for justice remain very much alive—especially in affected communities like Ile Perseverance and southern Mahé.
Walter, a long-time resident of Anse Aux Pins, lost two dogs that day. He and his wife recall the trauma vividly. “They were part of our family. One minute, they were happy in our yard; the next, they were gone. We buried them ourselves. No one ever came to explain,” he said.
The silence from the authorities in the wake of the event sparked outrage both locally and abroad. Animal lovers across the islands and tourists alike condemned the act as barbaric. Some international visitors vowed never to return, declaring that such cruelty had stained their perception of the Seychelles brand.
“I was planning to come back with my kids,” wrote one German tourist on Facebook. “But after what I saw… how could I support a country that treats animals like that?”
Be Kind, a local animal welfare NGO, has continued to call for transparency and justice, warning that incidents like these erode public trust and damage the nation’s image. “We must be better than this,” said a spokesperson. “These animals did not deserve to die, and their families—human and canine—deserve answers.”
As Seychelles positions itself as a luxury eco-tourism destination, this lingering tragedy raises uncomfortable questions about compassion, accountability, and what kind of society we truly aspire to be.
Two years on, the white van has disappeared. But the stain it left behind has not.
