TEMPERS flared at the San Fernando Dog Pound yesterday as animal rights activists faced off with employees of the pound, and with a police corporal attached to the San Fernando City Corporation.

For two days, founder of Animals are Human Too T&T, Nalini Dial, has been trying to save about 50 dogs from being put to sleep.

The dogs, some of them with collars, are brought in by dog catchers employed by various regional corporations in and around San Fernando. If left unclaimed, the dogs are euthanised by lethal injection administered by a vet.

Dial went to the pound on Thursday to adopt as many of the dogs as she could.

However she says she and Nasiff Mohammed, a member of her association, were chased off the compound.

An activist for the past 35 years, Dial said she has rescued more than 500 dogs and found homes for them.

Returning yesterday with a small group of people, Dial paid the $100 per dog adoption fee for 24 of the dogs as each person was only allowed to pay for a maximum of three.

Access to the pound at Lady Hailes Avenue is gained through the Roodal (Broadway) Public Cemetery which is controlled by the San Fernando City Corporation. There is a gateway at the entrance of the cemetery with a sign informing members of the public that the cemetery is open from 6 a.m.

"However, when we got here at around 8 o'clock this morning, the workers at the cemetery closed the gate on us and told us that they had instructions that we were not to be allowed onto the compound," Dial said.

"So we passed up to the back through the dump to get to the pound. When we got here the pound was closed. Three police officers came and ordered us off the compound because they said no one was here and we had to leave."

Dial and a municipal police officer who identified himself as Corporal Khan engaged in a war of words while two officers looked on. She was warned by Khan to be careful about what she said. But Dial insisted that she was free to speak out as it was her democratic right.

Keeper of the pound Basheer Ali subsequently arrived and processing of the documents began.

But Dial was brought to tears when told that the dogs would have to be removed immediately after the fees were paid at the City Corporation's offices.

She said many people were calling to get dogs but were at work while some did not immediately have transportation to collect the animals. One pitbull was removed by Mohammed.

Dial told the Express that she is hoping the dogs are kept over the weekend until Monday when arrangements can be made to move them. She also expressed disappointment at being told by Ali that he had no authority to accept four bags of dog chow brought by Dial and her group to feed the dogs.

They will continue to be fed with bread and water.