WILLEMSTAD – The head of Curaçao’s Veterinary Affairs Department has won his legal battle against the government after the court ruled that his dismissal following the controversial euthanasia of two puppies from the Dominican Republic was unlawful.
The court declared the December 2024 dismissal invalid and ordered the government to pay the veterinarian all lost salary retroactively and allow him to return to work.
Arnold Dwarkasing, former head of the Veterinary Affairs Department
The case stems from a highly controversial incident in June 2023, when the Veterinary Service ordered the euthanasia of two puppies imported from the Dominican Republic because the animals lacked the required documentation and were suspected of not being vaccinated against rabies.
The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media and intense public criticism. In response, the government suspended the department head and later dismissed him for alleged misconduct.
However, the court has now ruled that the government failed to properly substantiate the dismissal.
During the proceedings, the veterinarian explained that Curaçao lacks both the financial resources and adequate quarantine facilities needed to isolate high-risk animals for long periods. According to the ruling, he had repeatedly warned the government about those shortcomings before the incident occurred.
Rabies is considered one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and international veterinary guidelines often require strict quarantine measures or euthanasia for unvaccinated animals entering from high-risk regions when proper quarantine facilities are unavailable.
The court concluded that the government did not sufficiently prove that the department head had personally acted negligently or committed misconduct warranting dismissal.
The ruling also states that if the government no longer wishes to reinstate the veterinarian within his former department, authorities must provide him with a suitable alternative position where he can continue working until retirement.
The case has reignited debate about animal import regulations, quarantine infrastructure, public health protection, and political accountability within Curaçao’s veterinary and public health system.