Dear Editor, at a meeting at the Are Puka at Avatiu, the issue was raised “what has caused an increase in dog numbers”?

The conclusion reached was this was a social change from “home brew” camps in the valleys to the effect of imported liquor. Historically home brew was illegal and brewed and consumed out of sight, mostly by men and some tough women. As with any function, particularly over a long weekend, ‘catering’ needed to be attended to.

The grief caused by a missing pig was not worth the trouble, however a stray puakao that didn’t return home caused less concern. Everything was in balance and puakao numbers were kept in balance. The current dog population is a direct result of liquor imports that have altered the social conditions.

Back to the old days.

H Baker

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As early as 1905, there has been a dog control problem on Rarotonga that has never been fixed.

Surprisingly, around about the same time the island administrations of Aitutaki, Mitiaro, Mauke as well as the northern group took the brave initiative to ban dogs once and for all from their shores.

On Rarotonga, I see unfenced homes with dogs, whilst strangely enough, places like the airport, churches, the PM’s compound, and the Arorangi Prison are fenced but don’t have dogs.

But getting back to my point, surely someone in authority on the rock can see the sense in following the example of Aitutaki and the other responsible islands.

Effective enforcement of dog control has not worked in the past and will not in the future.

Its election time. How about a forward-thinking plan from one of our political parties to set a future date for the prohibition of dogs on Rarotonga.

It’s never too late to get smart.

Rod Henderson

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I’m not saying there isn’t a problem with a small number of aggressive dogs on the island, but we have many friends and guests who love meeting and connecting with the local dogs, and even say it made their holiday here that much more special. We have guests staying right near MOTU Villas who have swum, walked and played with the same local dogs each day and they rave about them. There aren’t many other places in the world where you can do that.

Jade Friend

(Facebook)