Samoa minister proposes selling stray dogs for export meat
Samoa minister proposes selling island's stray dogs for export meat
A Samoan government minister has suggested controversial money-making ideas to tackle the Pacific Island's stray dog problem.
11:32AM BST 08 Apr 2013
The main proposal, to export the island's strays to countries that would eat them, comes as the island's parliament debates a bill seeking to deal with the problem of errant dogs on the streets of the capital Apia.
Some Samoan politicians have come up with a plan to rid the streets of the strays, by turning them into food for export.
"In other countries they eat snake, even dogs or horses meat," Samoan Associate Education Minister Toleafoa Faafisi told Television New Zealand.
Mr Faafisi said insisted that rather than simply culling the dogs, the Pacific Island should seek to profit from the clean-up and some of his colleagues are supporting him.
"In other countries they eat snake, even dogs or horses meat," Mr Faafisi said.
However, Apia locals don't like the idea. "No, it shouldn't even be encouraged at all," one resident said.
Another idea being pitched is stray dogs racing, TVNZ reported.
"They will pay ten Tala (currency) entrance ticket and enjoy the racing," Mr Faafisi said.
But the police minister suggested there may be better ways to deal with the problem.
"We are closely working with the Animal Protection Society," Police Minister Sala Fata Pinati said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/americansamoa/9978436/Samoa-minister-proposes-selling-islands-stray-dogs-for-export-meat.html