Current Research

In many Fijian communities, free-roaming dogs are not always unowned strays, but rather are reliant on humans in some capacity. Human behaviours such as ownership apathy and a lack of basic veterinary care (i.e., vaccinations and desexing) determine whether free-roaming dog populations remain manageable or escalate into a serious public health risk.

As part of baseline data collection, Dr. Jessica Hoopes and Casey Quimby conducted a Dog Population Management initiative in Tavakubu Ward of Lautoka City, between July and September 2023. Tavakubu’s high human density and presence of free-roaming dogs made it a suitable location for the pilot study, reflecting broader trends in the dog populations across Viti Levu. 

This study involved a street dog count along a predetermined route, photographing each dog sighted and documenting their physical characteristics. The secondary methodology involved a structured door-to-door Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey to document the human behaviours of 219 Tavakubu, such as whether free-roaming dogs are owned in some capacity, either by an individual household or the community more broadly, and if they receive basic care

The 2023 survey found that 45% of respondent households reported owning at least one dog, yet only 11.3% had desexed their pets. The primary barriers to desexing were the perceived cost and limited awareness of its importance.

Following baseline data collection, Animals Fiji partnered with Lautoka City Council and the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways to conduct a sterilisation intervention, offering desexing, animal licensing and microchipping to over 211 animals in exchange for a gold coin donation.

In the coming month, Animals Fiji is building on our 2023 study by revisiting Tavakubu to repeat the street dog counts and door-to-door (KAP) surveys, allowing a comparison of 2023 and 2025 data to assess behavioural changes over time. By capturing community-level data, we will assess the impact of our 2023 sterilisation intervention and investigate the root causes behind the growing population of non-desexed, free-roaming dogs. This data will also help us identify potential Dog Population Management strategies that are both locally appropriate and prioritise animal welfare.

Addressing Fiji’s free-roaming dog population requires moving beyond short-term fixes, such as a reliance on subsidised veterinary services, toward long-term, behavioural change. Improvements in responsible pet ownership practices can only be achieved through a comprehensive understanding of human behaviours at a household level.

The 2023 report, co-authored by Dr. Jessica Hoopes and Casey Quimby, will be accessible in late 2025.