The Minister for Agriculture Dr. Mahendra Reddy has acknowledged the support of stakeholders and the general public in the successful implementation of a stray dog control campaign where a total of 682 stray dogs were captured during the recently concluded 8-week.
The 8-week campaign was held from 17th June till 09th August 2019 and was carried out concurrently throughout urban and peri-urban areas in the country.
Of the total dogs caught during the Campaign, 432 dogs were neutered, 91 dogs were rehomed with 373 dogs being released back into the areas in which they were initially trapped, and 218 animals being humanely euthanized.
“The support of the Ministry of Local Government and municipal councils, the various animal welfare organisations such as Animals Fiji, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Pacific Animal Shelter & Hospital (PASH), Vet Essentials, the Fiji Police Force and the general public helped the Ministry conduct such an extensive exercise,” Minister Reddy said.
“The trapping of these dogs and their subsequent neutering and necessary actions taken by all organizations involved during the campaign will undoubtedly address the number of strays we have on our streets.
“During the course of the exercise, all care was taken to humanely treat all caught dogs, including those who, unfortunately, had to be euthanized,” he added.
In conjunction with the trapping campaign, locality-based awareness campaigns were conducted. These focused on the Campaign objectives with the distribution of pamphlets to increase public knowledge on relevant legislation and the registration and licensing of eligible dogs also conducted.
“A total of 515 dog licenses were sold during the Campaign and this is a testament to the awareness done during this campaign,” said Hon. Reddy.
Minister Reddy also elaborated that the dogs that had been released were done as part of the Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program.
“For those de-sexed dogs that were not claimed or rehomed, they were released back into the areas they were trapped in as part of the Trap, Neuter, and Release program. TNR is a long term solution, and it prevents the increase of the stray dog population by preventing them from reproducing and allows the stray dog population to die out naturally.
It is anticipated that through the sustained implementation of the TNR program, as a key component of any national stray dog control program, the stray dog population will gradually decrease over time.
The Ministry will continue to enforce dog legislation and will strengthen the services of the Spay and Neuter Program during this financial year. Members of the public are advised to notify the Ministry of any complaints related to stray dogs in their community as the stray animal campaign was an ongoing program.