Dogs play an important role in many cultures. Dogs provide protection and companionship and often assist hunters provide food for their families and have important cultural roles. But, too many dogs in groups cause trouble. They may bite people (especially children), make noise, soil areas with manure and potentially transfer diseases (like ringworm) to people. Communities on small islands often end up with too many dogs and the dogs can run wild making the village a dangerous place.
This project started following conversations with colleagues in Fiji where people said “There are too many dogs here and they cause problems. We need to reduce the dog population.” Initially this appears to be a simple problem with a simple and obvious answer – get rid of some dogs. But like all problems the simple solution is rarely the best.
The dogs belong to the communities and are often people’s friends. The owners do not want to get rid of their dogs. Therefore, to design an effective population control program we need a sound understanding of how dogs fit into the local culture. The dog populations on islands tend to be isolated from dogs on other islands and because of this isolation they are relatively disease free. So, if we reduce the population too much, people will bring new dogs with the associated risk of introduction of new dog diseases.
The communities need to understand and support the process to reduce the dog population and understand the potential benefits from population control. Communities need agree that reducing the number of dogs is a good thing and decreasing the number of dogs has greater value than leaving them as they are.
It is important that any outsiders are introduced to the community and follow cultural protocols. The communities are usually isolated and while welcoming outsiders will be cautious about accepting outsiders from another country and culture to enter their village and spay and castrate their dogs.
This project worked in collaboration with remote island villages, animal welfare and development NGOs, Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, private veterinary practitioners from Fiji and Australia as well as, medical practitioners, district nurses and Charles Sturt University, Australia. Julie and Gavin Ramsay designed and managed the project as well as gaining funds from the Australian High Commission, Suva, Fiji.
