Dear Editor, I support the police crackdown on Rarotonga’s feral dog population. Dogs are causing road accidents, biting people and attacking livestock. Something needs to be done before someone is killed on the road or a child is mauled.
Yes, cull stray dogs roaming the roads without collars or tags, and enforce the limit of two dogs per household. To those animal lovers trying to dictate how the law should be enforced, think about people’s safety as well.
When a motorist hits a dog on the road and does not stop, the driver is often criticised online. But where is the same outrage directed at the careless owner whose dog caused the accident? Get real. Direct your anger at the owners, not the drivers who hit the dogs. How many owners offer to pay for vehicle damage or take responsibility for the consequences of allowing their animals to roam freely?
The spaying programme does not appear to be working, with the dog population seemingly tripling. I have a friend who took her dog to be desexed, only for it to end up having puppies. This raises questions about the programme’s effectiveness and whether more needs to be done to control the population.
Some animal lovers seem more concerned about the welfare of dogs than the safety of people. Motorbike riders, in particular, are vulnerable when dogs roam or linger along the roadside, making travelling to and from work a daily source of fear for some.
My aunt was badly injured when dogs ran into her motorbike a few years ago. The owners of the pack refused to pay for the damage because she could not identify exactly which dog had caused the accident. Is that fair? Who should be held accountable when owners allow their dogs to roam and put others at risk?
There is also the recent case of a man who was bitten by a dog, yet police reportedly refused to have the animal put down. How many more incidents must occur before meaningful action is taken?
Dog owners must follow the law like everyone else. Stop complaining about registration fees and giving your two cents’ worth of opinions. Pay the damn registration fees and look after your dogs.
The risks to motorists, motorbike riders, children and the wider community are real. We cannot keep making excuses while people’s safety is at stake.
I have personally been chased by a dog while riding my motorbike. On another occasion, a dog being chased by other dogs ran into my bike, leaving me injured and hospitalised. None of the dog owners paid for the damage to my motorbike.
So, cull dogs that chase people, cause accidents and endanger motorbike riders, as well as those that attack and bite people or livestock. Fine irresponsible owners and put public safety first. We should not have to wait for someone to lose their life before the problem is taken seriously.
Years ago, the police effectively culled the dog population before the spaying programme was fully introduced, and it worked. The dog population was much more manageable back then.
Yours faithfully,
Humans First
(Name and address supplied)