Dear Editor,

As a dog owner and concerned citizen, I feel compelled to write to you, in the hope of finding a solution to what seems like a growing or rather “growling” national problem in Samoa.

I recall an article you published back in September 2020, when you interviewed Dr. Harriet Thornton (former APS vet) regarding the overpopulation of dogs in Apia. One of the solutions Dr. Thornton mentioned was the culling of strays and mass de-sexing of dogs.

Unfortunately, during the pandemic, the volunteering vets at (APS) had returned and so spaying was not available until late last year and early this year (many pet owners are still awaiting their appointments to get their animals fixed). Because of this we now have an uncontrollable number of cats and dogs, roaming free and being a menace to society, and as a result, more animals have been abandoned and a rise in animal cruelty has been reported. 

Animal lovers are sharing heated social media posts, demanding action against animal abusers. As much as I detest these callous behaviors towards animals, I feel that the real issue here is finding a solution to help manage and reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs in Samoa.

Even though I am happy to see that South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) has teamed up with our local Animal Protection Society (APS) to offer free de-sexing and vaccinations this week in Savai’i. I hope the government will take this matter seriously and work together with SPAW and APS to sterilize as many animals and perhaps even offer free services in Upolu as well.

Training local staff to perform de-sexing of both males and females would be a huge help, along with assigning a permanent veterinarian at the APS center will ensure the animals are cared for all year round.

Sincerely,

K9-Karen