Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The local veterinary clinic now has a U.S. certified veterinarian, Dr. Barbara Kahl, who arrived on island on Mar. 3, 2022 and she’s working with the local staff to help keep local animals healthy.

Dr. Kahl is from Oregon and she became a Veterinarian in 2006 after 9 years of study for veterinarian medicine. Prior to her 16 years as a certified veterinarian, she spent over 15 years working for the tech industry — focusing on finance and accounting.

Dr. Kahl’s first priority is to have a new veterinary clinic facility and to hire a qualified animal control officer.

DoH deputy director, Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr said that the department is behind all the new vet’s plans to upgrade the clinic and DoH will work to help get the needed equipment for their task.

The new veterinarian explained to the committee that her vision is to help the clinic to move forward in its’ effort to create a healthy environment for the islands’ animal population. A major piece of this effort is to establish an animal control unit and shelter operation.

She said that on the first week when she arrived about 10 people came in to the clinic and they are now up to 30 people a day, bringing their animals in for treatment. With this busy schedule, they work up until 7p.m and she expects even more people with animals coming in to utilize their service.

Dr. Kahl also revealed to the committee that she’s working with the Governor’s Office through a request from the Attorney General’s office to assist in drafting an Animal Control bill that will be presented to the Fono for consideration.

Vesi said DoH is so grateful for the presence of Dr. Kahl and they’re looking forward to working with her in making sure the veterinary clinic offers the best service for our island pets and farm animals.

Faipule Ape Mike Asifoa asked if the clinic has enough equipment for their service and whether the current facility is large enough to serve all the animals on island.

Dr. Kahl said the facility they have at the Tafuna main location is quite small, however, they’re utilizing the space they have and the equipment on hand to serve the people and their animals with the hope that in the near future, a new facility with new equipment will improve their services.

The new veterinarian said that despite equipment and supplies being limited, what they have on hand is functional, workable and the people easily know how to get to their location.

In response to Ape’s question on whether she is qualified to administer controlled drugs and other medicines, Dr. Kahl said she is qualified by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for the next 3 years. She said that she can administer any controlled drug, including Category 2 drugs, which is the usual approval physician have.

Ape appeared satisfied with her response and then told Dr. Kahl that he has a female cow and asked if the clinic would be able to take care of her.

Dr. Kahl smiled and assured Ape that she can take good care of his cow. She said that in a few days, the veterinary clinic will have a pickup truck enabling  them to make home visits and she’s looking forward to visiting different areas and getting a good idea of the status of animals all around the island.

Vesi chimed in and told the committee that with money from the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Acts), the plan for a new veterinary clinic is a top DoH priority. He said construction of the new facility would start immediately after everything is approved.

Manu’a #2 Faipule Tioalii Fau Sai asked Dr. Kahl to take a trip to visit the Manu’a islands to help with pets and farm animals. Tiaoalii told the new veterinarian any service that is good for the people of Tutuila is also good for people in Manu’a.

Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr was pleased with the presence of the new veterinarian in American Samoa. He told Dr. Kahl that he had a lot of cats at home, but the problem is, he loves animal but he doesn’t want to take care of them himself.

Saole Faipule Titiali’i Kitara Vaiau told Dr. Kahl that her presence in American Samoa is a life saver for pets and other animal and asked, “What kind of animals do you treat at the clinic?”

Dr. Kahl said that she can treat all animals. “If you have a bear at home I can treat it too for you,” Dr. Kahl said.

Titialii responded saying, “You’re lucky because I don’t eat dogs anymore.”

The faipule recalled a case where drugs were confiscated from the Department of Agriculture’s (DoA) main office in Tafuna because there was no licensed vet to prescribe them at the time.

He also stated that there was also an issue with the previous veterinarian — his qualifications were questioned. Titiali’i said a U.S. certified vet is easier to qualify than a non-US licensed veterinarian which is what caused a lot of difficulties.

Fetu echoed Titiali’i’s comments saying that there was a problem two years ago while the veterinarian clinic was under the Dept. of Agriculture (DoA) and the Fono received numerous complaints and phone calls from members of the public over what they called the ‘unprofessional’ and ‘unreliable’ services he  (the non-US licensed veterinarian) provided.

There were also reports that more than 30 animals died after he treated them. Fetu said that a pet owner claimed that her dog died after the former veterinarian failed to render the required services, which was a surgical procedure.

He then thanked DoH for bringing Dr. Kahl onboard to help with pets and other animals in American Samoa.

BACKGROUND

In March of last year, the former veterinarian hired from Samoa several years ago to head the small animal clinic appeared before the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing to discuss various issues regarding his services at the Veterinary Clinic in Tafuna.

Dr. Ken Lameta, a veterinarian originally hired from Samoa told faipule during the hearing that he received his license from the Health Regularity Board to allow him to work in American Samoa in 2012, however, his license expired while he still headed the veterinarian clinic.

He was questioned by faipule during the hearing about drugs taken from the animal clinic because no one at the clinic was certified to handle them and the reason why Dr. Lameta continues to work for the DoA despite the fact that he did not have a license.

Dr. Lameta said he received his doctor’s degree from the Philippines and he can perform services in all countries under the Commonwealth and he received his license from Samoa.