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Coconut Mutts set to bring Veterinarian to Tutuila in June

Adog at a free spay neuter clinic sponsored by Coconut Muts
Source: Coconut Mutts/ Kristen Jensen

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Coconut Mutts received many grateful words and support from our island community at the end of 2018, for providing assistance via the Healthy Pets, Healthy Island initiative. Three hundred dogs and cats were sterilized, helping keep the pet population in check.  

The non-profit group is pleased to announce another sterilization program,  happening in June 2019, in cooperation with the ASG Department of Agriculture, and with grant assistance from the Banfield Foundation.

Coconut Mutts will be sponsoring a volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Bret Grover, to come assist the department. Dr. Grover will be offering sterilization surgery for dogs and cats, and will be cooperating with the new territorial veterinarian, Dr. Kenneth Lameta. 

Dr. Grover will be traveling from Utah, and will arrive June 10th. 

Coconut Mutts hopes this will be an ongoing cooperation with the DoA and plans on sending additional veterinarians to help keep up with the large need for animal care in the territory. They will be providing spay/ neuter surgery, vaccinations, deworming, and medical care to our community in mid-June. Surgery appointments will be available June 12-14, and June 17-21.

Pet overpopulation continues to be an ongoing problem for our territory. Dogs and cats breed multiple times a year, leading to a situation where one pair of animals can exponentially multiply in the span of a year or two. With limited veterinary services, and animals left to roam free, it is easy to see a population explosion in a matter of months.

If your family has a dog or cat needing sterilization, and you are interested in participating in the program, please contact Tanya Tarasawa at the ASG DoA Veterinary Clinic at 699-9445 to schedule an appointment. Surgeries will be done by appointment only during this program. 

Coconut Mutts would like to thank Director Filifaatali Mike Fuiava for his continued support and cooperation in keeping American Samoa healthy. Coconut Mutts also would like to thank the Banfield Foundation for the financial support, providing the veterinary supplies needed for this important work.