Many dogs found wandering the streets causing nuisance at night and tearing up garbage bags on the road are owned and properly fed.

The Animal Health and Production Division under the Agriculture Ministry has found that the stray dog population has increased.

Director Animal Health Tomasi Tunabuna says many dog owners are letting their pets wander the streets, which is now becoming a major concern in the country.

‘’The issue of being stray is no longer like really stray because they seem to be very much owned, very tamed even though they’ll be charging at people and barking at them but the population has increased and they seem to be fitting very well in individual communities. Even though some of them are not owned by people, they add to the nuisance we always have for stray dogs or unwanted dogs and they add to the littering of places and noises at night’’.

Tunabuna says extra work needs to be done to control the overpopulation of dogs to prevent the country from getting rabies- a disease spread when an infected animal scratches or bites another animal or human.

Animal owners have been advised to be more responsible when handling and looking after their pets.

The Suva City Council is undertaking a stray dog trapping exercise within the City boundary. Residents must ensure their pets are secured.