The American Samoa Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Clinic is in full swing for the new year, and with the holiday season over, they are gearing up to restart their village spay and neuter clinics. 

Along with their local partners Alofa Mo Meaola and the worldwide support group, Humane Society International, they are working on scheduling clinics in Fagasa, Leone, Tula, Vaitogi, Pago Pago, Faga’alu and Aua. 

Territorial Veterinarian Dr. Brenda Smith is looking forward to holding the clinics again, but she is sending out an appeal to the community for places where they can be held. She  urges residents to work with their pulenu’u, because that is how previous clinics have been successfully held.

 She told Samoa News, “If you wish to have a clinic in your village, please contact your pulenu’u to help plan for it. We need a guest fale or a building with power, preferably overhead lights, and access to water.  If you have a suitable location, please call the clinic at 699-9445 to be added to the schedule.

And of course, volunteers are always welcome.

Village clinic days are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, with occasional Saturdays possible. The next clinics are scheduled in Fagasa (tomorrow) February 10 and Thursday, Feb. 12.

According to Dr. Smith, “We are also continuing our “village clinic at the Clinic” effort by offering free transportation in the Nuuuli and Tafuna villages for any dogs or cats in these areas who need transported to the main Dept. of Agriculture clinic for spay or neuter surgery.  You may call the clinic at 699-9445 to schedule an appointment, and a ride.

Both the surgery and the ride are free of charge for animals in these areas.

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED FOR PUPPIES AND KITTENS

Dr. Smith also said, “We have been overwhelmed with puppies and kittens lately.  We cannot house animals here at the clinic, as we need the space for our surgery patients.  We are desperately in need of more foster homes for puppies and kittens that are too small for surgery, or who require some extra care or medication before they can be adopted.”

She says foster families will need an indoor or enclosed area from which the animals cannot escape or become lost or stolen, and will need to return them when they are old enough for surgery or well enough to be adopted.

“At this time all our foster homes are full and any further animals brought in may unfortunately have to be euthanized,” she told Samoa News.

“If you have animals that you need to find new homes for, it’s best to keep them until they are at least eight weeks old.  Then, with the help of Alofa Mo Meaola, we can find homes for them. We also ask that you bring in the parents at that time, so we can prevent more unwanted litters.”

If you want a puppy, kitten, dog or cat, call the clinic at 699-9445 and if they don’t currently have what you want, they will add your name to the list and call when a suitable animal is available.

Dr. Smith reports that the Vet Clinic is working toward rebuilding the holding kennels for stray dogs.  “As soon as they are completed, we will resume trapping of stray or free-roaming dogs from public areas such as Lions Park, the Marketplace and the business areas of Utulei, Fagotogo and Tafuna, as well as the canneries.”

Once those areas are cleared again, they will start with dogs roaming along the streets.  The dogs will be held for 48 hours for owners to claim them, unless they are vicious or ill, in which case they will be euthanized. Unclaimed dogs will be adopted out if possible, and if not adopted, they will also be euthanized.

If anyone wishes to adopt an adult dog, simply call the clinic and let them know—they will call you when one is available.

The problem of stray and roaming dogs has been ongoing in the territory for many years, and many people think that ‘culling’ or simply killing animals off the street will solve the problem. However, Dr. Smith says this is not the solution, and she notes that this practice has been used before in American Samoa— and obviously, it did not make much of a dent in the dog and cat population.

“The ONLY way to reduce the dog and cat population is to spay or neuter all dogs and cats,” she stated emphatically.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you would like to volunteer to help collect dogs for surgery at a village clinic or at the main clinic at the Dept. of Agriculture, please contact the clinic at the number listed above, or call Alofa Mo Meaola at 731-6675.

There is an urgent need to support the effort to reduce the number of free-roaming dogs. The best ways to do this are to have your dogs spayed or neutered— and to feed them regularly so they stay close to home.

Upcoming later in February is a chance to highlight the Territory’s efforts to get the animal population under control, as February 24 is “World Spay Day”.

“We participated last year with a big spay/neuter clinic in Fagatogo. We would like to do an even bigger clinic this year – if you have a location available we would appreciate your help!” says Dr. Smith.