A new research study examining dog ownership practices in Fiji has found that low desexing rates, stray dog adoption and gaps in responsible pet ownership may be contributing to growing free-roaming dog populations.
The study, titled Who Let the Dogs Out?, surveyed households in Tavakubu, Lautoka and examined knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding dog ownership.
Researchers found that 37 per cent of households surveyed owned at least one dog, while 55 per cent of dog-owning households also reported feeding dogs they did not own.
Most households said they kept dogs either for companionship or protection.
The study revealed that most dogs were obtained informally, with 51 per cent acquired as gifts or free dogs and 44 per cent taken in as strays. Only five per cent of households reported adopting dogs from shelters or rescue groups, while none obtained dogs from breeders.
Researchers estimated Tavakubu’s owned dog population at about 1,606 dogs, including 1,399 adult dogs and 207 puppies.
The survey also found that only 22 per cent of adult dogs were desexed, with female dogs slightly more likely to be desexed than males.
At the household level, only 13 per cent of dog-owning households reported that all their dogs were desexed.
The main reasons given for not desexing dogs included lack of awareness about its importance and the cost involved.
The research noted that increasing public education, improving access to affordable desexing services and promoting responsible ownership practices would be important in managing Fiji’s free-roaming dog population.
Many households feeding stray dogs, study finds
More than half of households surveyed in a Fiji-based dog ownership study reported regularly feeding dogs they did not consider their pets, highlighting concerns about the growth of free-roaming dog populations.
The research found that 54 per cent of households surveyed fed at least one dog they did not own.
Of the 118 households identified as caregivers, 38 per cent also owned dogs, while 62 per cent reported feeding dogs despite not owning any pets themselves.
The study also found that just under one-quarter of households neither owned dogs nor fed them.
Among households that disclosed the number of dogs they fed, caregivers reported feeding an average of 4.33 dogs per household, excluding their own pets.
Researchers estimated that about 446 dogs were being fed across all surveyed households, although some animals may have been fed by multiple families.
The study noted that attitudes toward dogs strongly influenced feeding behaviour.
Households that agreed with the statement “I like dogs” were significantly more likely to feed free-roaming dogs compared with households that disliked dogs.
Researchers said the findings highlighted the complexity of managing stray dog populations in Fiji, particularly where community feeding practices contribute to the survival and movement of free-roaming animals.
The study suggested greater public awareness and responsible ownership measures may be needed to address the issue.
