The animal welfare non-profit organization Coconut Mutts (https://coconutmutts.org/), in collaboration with the Department of Health’s Veterinary Clinic, the Office of Samoan Affairs, Department of Education, Legislature, Alofa Mo Meaola, Lions Club and Animal Lovers, aims to prevent a further increase in the number of dogs on Tutuila by providing spay and neuter surgery for adult dogs from May 16 through May 20.
Dr. Bret Grover, who has provided his services in the past, arrived on May 15th with medication and supplies donated by Coconut Mutts and its partners.
He will be working with the Clinic staff to spay or neuter an estimated 50 dogs per day.
Below is the schedule for he spay and neuter clinics and surgery will be by appointment:
- Tafuna Veterinary Clinic on May 16th;
- Fagatogo Pavilion on May 17th;
- Fagaitua High School Fale on May 18th;
- Leone residence of Andra Samoa on May 19th;
- Tafuna Veterinary Clinic on May 20th.
Dog owners must call in to the Clinic to make an appointment.
The following rules will ensure the project reaches the most number of dog owners:
l) No walk-ins to the Clinic – if you don’t have an appointment you will be politely asked to return after May 20th
2) No cats – cat surgeries can be done by Clinic staff after May 20th
3) No health checks – these can be done by Clinic staff
4) Maximum 3 adult dogs per owner can be scheduled during this project— female dogs are the priority.
Dogs should be at the surgery area by 9AM, unfed, on a leash.
All dogs must be picked up by 3:30PM on the same day.
If you are unable to transport your dogs to a clinic, please let the Clinic staff know when you make your appointment. Dogs generally considered ‘strays’ on the street, un-collared or unchipped, may be picked up by Clinic staff for surgery. They will be returned to the area from which they were picked up upon clearance by the VET. The Clinic has no room to house stray dogs. The Clinic does not kill/euthanize, otherwise, healthy dogs.
Managing the dog population is a long term effort. “Spay and neuter is scientifically proven to be the most effective way to do that,” says a statement from the DOH Veterinary Clinic. “We saw evidence of this when we had two US certified veterinarians on staff at the clinic between 2013 and 2018. The number of dogs we have now is the result of not having consistent spay and neuter services over the last five years.”
The goal is to have 250 dogs spayed or neutered by May 20th. At 6 puppies per litter, 2 litters per dog per year, those 250 surgeries could eliminate 3,000 unwanted dogs in a year.
Numbers to call are 699-9945 (Tafuna Clinic); 252-7821 (Shawnti); 256-2629 (Debbie); or 256-86523 (Luana).
