The Chief of Police says
that he too shares the public concerns over the increasing number of feral
dogs.
Chief Tony Edwards says
that while the Police department is responsible for enforcing the legal
requirements to register dogs on the island, the public must understand that
the growing number of feral dogs is a community issue not solely a Police
matter.
The Chief of Police said
that the Police will commence with the culling of unregistered dogs by shooting
them, but he says some people do not want to shoot the dogs but rather have
them euthanized.
The Chief says that this
issue must be dealt with by all stakeholders including the dog owners, the
village councils, the animal husbandry division of the Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and NGOs with the help of the visiting Rock
Vets.
Meanwhile the Niue
Tourism Director Felicity Bollen in a statement to BCN news says that the “Niue
Tourism continue to be deeply concerned with the dog control problems on the
island especially as we move into high season. She says that they do not want a
repeat of last year when several visitors were viciously attacked while out for
a morning run. Dogs roaming loose also pose considerable threat to our
children.”
She said that at recent meetings between stakeholders including the Chief of Police, NZHC, DaFF and the Chamber of Commerce and the Rock Vets they urged the Niue Police to take stronger measures for dog control going forward.
Story by Esther Pavihi
