Study links dog ownership practices to stray dog population

A recent study has found that local attitudes and dog ownership practices influence free-roaming dog populations in Fiji.

The research, authored by Casey Quimby, Jasmine Dhillon, Tomasi Tunabuna and Jessica Hoopes, is the first study of its kind in Fiji and the wider Pacific region.

Published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, the study examined community attitudes towards dog ownership and veterinary care.

Casey Quimby, co-founder and managing trustee of Animals Fiji, said findings from research conducted in Tavakubu Ward, Lautoka, revealed a gap between positive attitudes towards responsible pet ownership and actual practices.

“Despite positive attitudes towards preventative veterinary care, desexing and licensing remained low,” Ms Quimby said.

“High levels of community dog feeding, compounded by low desexing rates and limited confinement of owned dogs, likely contribute to Fiji’s free-roaming dog population.”

Ms Quimby said the research provided evidence-based findings for future dog population management initiatives in Fiji and highlighted the need for community-led approaches adapted to local values.

“This research was conducted in partnership with Animals Fiji, a registered charity dedicated to improving animal welfare across Fiji,” she said.

The publication is available at https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/166

Supporting animal welfare across Fiji

Animals Fiji is a Fiji-registered charity providing veterinary care, animal welfare services, sheltering, adoption, education and community outreach across the country.

With clinics in Nadi, Lautoka, Savusavu and Labasa, the organisation works to improve the lives of pets, livestock, wildlife and the communities that care for them.

Through subsidised veterinary services, desexing programmes, rescue and rehabilitation, public education and dog population management research, Animals Fiji supports humane and evidence-based animal welfare solutions across Fiji and the Pacific.

The organisation also works closely with communities, government agencies, councils and regional partners to strengthen animal welfare, public health and One Health outcomes across the region.

Animals Fiji is also a member of the Pacific Island Animal Advocacy Alliance, a Pacific-led network supporting collaboration, knowledge-sharing and locally appropriate animal welfare and dog population management solutions across island nations.