Fifty-one stray dogs were placed in various pens in the Western Division yesterday.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture West confirmed last night, expecting the numbers to increase gradually.

The MOA has been working with other agencies such as Animals Fiji in de-sexing dogs after they are being trapped.

“Once they are de-sexed we look to rehome the dogs. There were 12 dogs de-sexed in Nadi yesterday (Tuesday),” the official said.

The official urged that public support remains crucial in the next eight weeks as the MOA is working with the town and city councils in an intensive stray dog campaign in the Western Division, which started on June 17.

“The trap is only placed in the street and not in the residential compounds,” said the official.

He added that a special de-sexing programme has been organised with Charles Stuart University in selected areas.

One of the Trap Neuter Release Programmes is tagging, which is proven to be a vital long-term strategy by restricting the growth of the stray population from reproducing and allowing the stray population to die out naturally, while keeping other stray animals out of their territory (protecting what little food source they may have available).

The Trustee of the Pacific Animal Shelter and Hospital (Fiji) Lynn Scott, said: “This ensures that there is a national identification strategy for all animals, which would allow the enforcement of the Dog Licensing Act to be enforced more effectively and take owners to task should they neglect their animal, fail to have them de-sexed or fail to keep them cared for and contained suitably and humanely within their property.”

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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