Police step in to return dog to owner

According to Ms Narayan, the canine was chained up because the owner, Ms Lata told her they had lost the key for the lock that was still hanging on the chain around the dogs neck

Adog named Ode was eventually returned to its owner early on Sunday morning after the owner got the Fiji Police to help her retrieve it from the founder of a non profit organisation.

Ode was returned to Suman Lata of Vomo Street in Lautoka on Sunday morning after Greater Good Foundation worker Kamni Narayan lost custody when Police officers returned the dog to its owner. Ms Narayan said she was assisted by a Police officer when she went to see the dog after complaints by neighbours of the animal being tied up for almost two years.

After taking the dog for treatment on Sunday afternoon, she said she got calls from at least three Police officers, including a senior officer on Sunday night that she would be arrested if she did not return the dog.

However Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, said no threats of arrest were made by the officers at the Lautoka Police Station. “According to the information we gathered there was no such threat of arrests made.

“The officer had taken upon himself to arrange a meeting between the two women to try and sort the matter out.”

According to Ms Narayan, the canine was chained up because the owner, Ms Lata, told her that they had lost the key for the lock that was still hanging on the chain around the dog’s neck.

Ode had a bad infection around the area where the chain was wrapped around the neck and Ms Narayan said they would have to sedate the dog in order to remove the chain. Ms Narayan said the owner agreed for them to take the dog which they did after she (the owner) was assured that the dog would be checked and treated for the infection and given back to her. “She came with another woman and I told them the dog would not be released back to her until it was treated,” Ms Narayan.

Ms Narayan left the station at around 3am yesterday accompanied by Police officers who took the dog away.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, said no threats of arrest were made by the officers at the Lautoka Police Station.

Photo: Charles Chambers Kamni Narayan of Greater Good Foundation with Ode after he was rescued from a home in Lautoka. The infection is said to have formed after being chained by the neck for three years.