13 Sep 2005

American Samoa Dog Control Task Force begins hunt for strays

10:23 am on 13 September 2005

American Samoa's newly established Dog Control Task Force has begun setting traps for stray dogs in an area with the worst concentration of strays, the Tafuna Lions Park.

Task Force Chairman, deputy director of agriculture, Peter Gurr, says after holding their first meeting last week they decided to get started on reducing the stray dog population.

Tenants of government housing at Lions Park were informed that the Task Force would be setting traps and there was an almost immediate reduction in the number of dogs roaming the neighborhood.

Mr Gurr says families were tying up their dogs so that they would not be captured.

The task force will move to other villages after the Lions Park area and will be working in conjunction with village mayors.