cat and dog look on a white background Photo: 123RF
A spray and neuter village outreach clinic in American Samoa successfully performed almost 700 surgeries in 24 days to control the island's animal population.
According to the American Samoan online news site Talanei, these included 562 dogs, 112 cats, and 1 pig, covering 19 villages.
According to a 2012 study, over half of all reported injuries were attributed to dog bites in the US territory.
The study noted that despite years of public outcry against the "serious public health hazard", little had been done to adequately address the problem that affects all age groups of both sexes.
The outreach clinics included also, for the first time in years, the Manu'a Islands as part of the initiative.
Local veterinarian Dr Stanley Rota said the desexing of so many animal means that thousands of cats and dogs would not be added to the animal population on the island.
Dr Kathleen Riley, who travelled from Boston on behalf of Coconut Mutts, agreed that the outreach was a success.
Coconut Mutts partnered with the Department of Health and other American Samoa government departments to sponsor the village clinics.
Dr Riley told Talanei that having spay and neuter services regularly has also made a difference, adding that animal care in the territory has improved since she last visited in 2020.