A number of foreign veterinarians are in the country to desex animals and reduce the number of stray animals on our streets.

They are working with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and are currently carrying out a weeklong mass de-sexing clinic in Suva.

USA Veterinarian Dr Kimberly Khodakhah says stray animals often carry diseases.

“There’s a big animal overpopulation problem. The great thing is that the shelter actually has a lot of people who have signed up for the de-sexing clinic and are actually on a list to be de-sexed. We’ve now just got in enough vets to handle the volume so we’ve trying to take this momentum to the other towns and communities.”

Dr Khodakhah says the recent outbreak of Leptospirosis is a good example of why stray animal population must be managed.

She says hook worm and scabies are just two examples of animal diseases that can transfer across species, especially when stray animals roam around freely.