Antigua and Barbuda's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is the primary animal welfare legislation. The act prohibits cruelty and abandonment and establishes basic standards for animal care. The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and Barbuda Affairs oversees agricultural animal welfare, while the police are responsible for enforcement of cruelty provisions.
The country is a party to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), providing international framework protections for wildlife. The Fisheries Act regulates marine species interactions, including protections for sea turtles, dolphins, and other marine wildlife.
The Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society is the primary animal welfare organization, providing shelter, adoption, and veterinary services. Stray dog and cat populations require ongoing management, with the humane society advocating for systematic spay/neuter programs over euthanasia-based population control.
Tourism pressures intersect with companion animal welfare: the presence of stray animals in tourist areas creates both welfare and public health concerns. Several resorts and hotels have partnered with animal welfare organizations on property-level animal management protocols.
Antigua and Barbuda's beaches provide important nesting habitat for hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles. Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) runs the longest-running sea turtle monitoring program in the Eastern Caribbean. Nesting beaches on the northeast coast receive protection and monitoring, with community beach guardians supporting turtle nest identification and protection from poaching.
Sea turtle welfare concerns include bycatch in local fisheries and historical hunting. EAG's community education programs have shifted local attitudes toward turtle conservation, with formerly active hunters now serving as conservation champions.
Antigua's agricultural sector is small, with local poultry, goat, and sheep production supplemented by imports. Traditional smallholder systems dominate. The government has promoted domestic food production for food security, with potential welfare implications as production scales up without corresponding welfare regulatory development.
Barbuda's Codrington Lagoon hosts the Western Hemisphere's largest frigate bird colony, with approximately 5,000 birds nesting in mangroves. Hurricane Irma in 2017 severely impacted this colony, with recovery ongoing. The sanctuary represents an important example of colonial-era wildlife protection with contemporary significance.