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al Science tic & li P Lyu, J Pol Sci Pub Aff 2015, 3:3 o u P b f l i o c DOI: 10.4172/2332-0761.1000175 l A a Journal of Political Sciences & f n f r a u i r o s J ISSN: 2332-0761 Public Affairs Research Article Open Access Proposal on Solutions to Stray Dog Problem in American Cities Peijin Lyu* Illinois Institute of Technology, 3241-S-Wabash Avenue Box 380, Chicago, Illinois-60616, USA Abstract With the development of cities, stray dogs have become one of the most serious public management problems in American cities, and a widespread concern by the public. Stray dogs have many negative impacts on city environment and human health. There are many causes for the stray dog problem. Strengths and weakness of each solution was analyzed. A Five Year Plan to better solve the stray dog problem was proposed by this proposal. Keywords: Proposal; Solution; Stray dog problem treatment, unwilling to continue feeding. In fact, many stay dogs in Detroit were abandoned, because their owners could no longer afford Introduction to keep them. Moreover, lost dogs are also increasing the quantities of With the development of cities, stray dogs have become one of the stray dogs. Without sterilization, the multiplication of stray dogs is also most serious public management problems in American cities, and a an important cause [4]. From all of the above, everyone can see that widespread concern by the public. This proposal briefly introduces the stray dogs have become such a serious problem that needs to be solved serious status, causes, and impacts of the stray dog problem, proposed urgently. The purpose of this proposal is to propose better solutions to available options to solve the problem, then detail analyzed the strengths solve this problem. and weakness of each option, and proposed recommendations on Options to consider solution, finally elaborated the plans for implementation and expected outcome. There were certain methods were taken to preventive the The available options to deal with stray dogs mainly include: stray dog problems. sheltering, killing, vaccinating and neutering, non-governmental rescue actions and programs. With the problem of stray dogs appearing, there Background are many spontaneous organizations and programs to rescue them, for example, the Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR), and the CNR (collect-neuter- A large number data shows that stray dogs have become a serious return) program of stray dogs. However, according to the current public administration problem in American cities. Packs of wild dogs situation, these options can’t effectively solve stray dog problem in our roam America’s city streets. As reported in the Grand Forks Herald, cities. So, these options are not better solutions. stray dogs are an increasing problem on American Indian reservations, particularly in North and South Dakota reservations [1]. The city of Strengths and weakness of each option Detroit is known to be one of the top cities for dog fighting [2,3] and Bloomberg News reported that up to 50,000 dogs roam in packs around Although the various solutions above can deal with the stray dog the Detroit city. There also are an estimated 50,000 street stray dogs in problem, there also exists weakness in each option. Sheltering looks Los Angeles [4]. What’s more, in New Orleans, estimates are placed at like a good option for stray dogs, but the truth is it is not. Because 120,000 stray dogs post Katrina [5,6]. there are so many stray dogs that need a huge amount of money for treatment. Shelters will occupy plenty of land and houses. It also needs Negative impacts of stray dogs many breeders, veterinarians to treat dogs. It also needs to be able to do appropriate quarantine, regular vaccinations, and deworming. In fact, Stray dogs have many negative impacts on city environment and money and resources will never be enough to meet the large demand human health. Stray dogs cause noise pollution, feces garbage and of food and cost of stray dog management. What’s more, disease can traffic accidents. Among Detroit’s many problems, this one tugs at the easily and quickly transfer among the sheltered dogs. Shelters cannot heart strings: thousands of stray dogs roaming the streets at night. And solve the homeless animal problem. So sheltering is not a fundamental Michigan is ranked 23rd in the states caught in fighting dogs [4]. Stray solution, because the number of stray dogs is always increasing. dogs can cause a collision when dogs run into the road, which might Perhaps many people think that killing is a simple solution, but in even result in injury to other people and also to itself [5]. Moreover, fact, it is not an efficient and human solution. How to kill is still a big stray dogs have become a bigger threat to human health and lives. Stray problem [9]. The most easy and efficient way is poisoning. But it’s also dogs can transfer and spread Rabies a deadly disease [7]. The World a cruel and painful way. It will put the other animals and humans at Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 200 million stray dogs worldwide and that every year, 55,000 people die from rabies. Detroit ranked sixth last year for dog attacks in the U.S [8]. *Corresponding author: Peijin Lyu, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3241-S-Wabash In Los Angeles County and City alone, about 200,000 residents were Avenue Box 380, Chicago, Illinois-60616, USA, Tel: 0001+312 774 5037; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] bitten by abandoned dogs in one year [4,5]. Received May 13, 2015; Accepted September 24, 2015; Published October 05, Various causes of stray dogs 2015 There are many causes for the stray dog problem. The most Citation: Lyu P (2015) Proposal on Solutions to Stray Dog Problem in American Cities. J Pol Sci Pub Aff 3: 175. doi:10.4172/2332-0761.1000175 important reason is abandonment behavior by residents. A great numbers of dogs were abandoned by their owners for some reasons, Copyright: © 2015 Lyu P. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted such as family tragedies moving and getting married, sickness use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and and intolerable physiological characteristics of pets, no money for source are credited. J Pol Sci Pub Aff ISSN: 2332-0761 JPSPA, an open access journal Volume 3 • Issue 3 • 1000175 Citation: Lyu P (2015) Proposal on Solutions to Stray Dog Problem in American Cities. J Pol Sci Pub Aff 3: 175. doi:10.4172/2332-0761.1000175 Page 2 of 3 risk, especially children. Shooting seem like a good idea, because it is Firstly, government has to formulate and enact animal rights efficient, quick and painless. But it’s not easy to carry out. Shooting law as soon as possible. The law has to clearly define the definition, stray dogs on the street will bring risk to people. And it’s also an feeding and management, legal rights for stray dogs. It is necessary inhumane and brutal act. Some dogs may be wounded instead of killed. that establish a sound system of monitoring and management of Stray dogs in Romania have been hunted and killed for decades without stray dogs. Secondly, government and related public sectors have results. The fact has proved that killing stray dogs is not a sustainable to provide necessary and sufficient immunity, vaccinating and solution. Vaccinating and neutering are good options, but it also has neutering, medical and rescue services with stray dogs. Public health weakness [9]. Vaccinating and neutering are helpful in controlling the and environmental emergency must improve services on stray dog transfer of disease and quantities of stray dogs. If every female stray disease prevention and treatment. Thirdly, government has to provide dog is neutered, the number of breeding dogs will be largely reduced. and increase the financial and political support for nongovernmental Moreover, studies show [10] that spayed and neutered animals live stray dog protection organizations and programs. The government longer, healthier lives with fewer medical and behavioral problems. But has to enhance communication and corporate with non-governmental the difficult is implementation and lack of money. There are so many organizations on solutions. Finally, government and related public stray dogs on the street and other any places. Distinguishing sex of stray sectors have to develop and implement specific measures to deal with dogs and providing huge amounts of money to implement vaccinate stray dogs, mainly establishing “dog farms”, distribution of stray dogs, and neutering still are big challenging jobs. Although vaccinate and enhance monitoring and controlling, enhancing the advertising and neutering is a good option, the dilemma is without the support of education of pets’ owners, improve stray dogs’ welfare [14]. government and law. Non-governmental rescue actions and programs have been springing up at recent decades. Many animal shelters and Plans for implementation dog rescue groups have been built up. Animal rights activists organize According to the Five Year Plan, the quantities of stray dogs in many nonprofit organizations to help the reservation’s strays. They try each city will be reduced in three to five years. The stray dog problem to offer free and low-cost spay and neuter services, but some residents will be basically solved in five years. The following is the detail just aren’t interested. Detroit Dog Rescue also emphasizes education, implementations: Firstly, government has to formulate and enact owner assistance and spay-and-neuter programs [2].

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