The government’s Economic Development Implementation Plan (EDIP), which was released last week, includes a recommendation for American Samoa to adopt and implement an animal care and control program that deals with reducing the stray dog population in the territory.

According to the task force charged with coming up with the EDIPA, the Office of Samoan Affairs, Agriculture and Commerce Department are collaborating to address the stray dog issue.

The task force recommends utilizing Samoan Affairs Office to obtain pulenu’u assistance for manpower, village space, and working with Agriculture Department Veterinarian Dr. Brenda Smith and her team to operate, vaccinate, monitor, and educate villages on prevention/ control of pet diseases and parasites and the legal requirement to license all dogs.