Rep. Larry Sanitoa has asked the stray dog task force for help regarding stray dogs that are bothering public areas of Tualauta and also suggested that the group look at taking over funding allocation for the stray dog program allocated in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

In a letter this week, Sanitoa wrote to Papali’i Marion Fitisemanu, chairman of the governor’s Animal Control and Care Program (ACCP) Task Force, asking for assistance regarding stray dogs in public areas— specifically around the Office of Motor Vehicle area where many residents walk the track in the mornings and evenings.

“A pack of stray dogs is reported to be [there] at the least favorable time when there are a lot people walking. This was reported once before and was resolved, however it appears to be a problem again and getting worse,” Sanitoa said.

He also pointed out that in the FY 2014 budget, $50,000 is earmarked under the Special Program for a Dog Eradication Project. “Perhaps this is a program the ACCP Task Force would consider taking over and utilizing the funds to control the repeated emergence of stray dogs,” he said and thanked ACCP for their work in addressing the stray dog problem.