Integrating humane and sustainable dog population management in public health programmes around the

Co-authors: Melania Gamboa, World Animal Protection – – Oficentro del Mall Paseo de las Flores, 5to piso, Heredia, Costa Rica. [email protected] Ellie Parravani, World Animal Protection – International – 222 Grays Inn Road, , WC1X 8HB. [email protected]

Introduction Projects and Programmes

Globally, there are estimated to be around 700 million dogs, a large pro- portion of which are unwanted, un- healthy and unvaccinated.

In many countries, both owned and un- owned dogs are allowed to roam free. This can lead to potential dog-human con- flicts in the form of traffic accidents, public nuisance, aggression, environmental con- tamination, as well as the threat of trans- mission of zoonotic diseases such as rabies. World Animal Protection estimates that up to 10 million dogs are inhumanely killed around the world every year in the name of diseases such as rabies or other conflicts.

To combat this misconception, we advo- cate for the integration of humane dog population management (DPM) into gov- ernmental public health policies around Costa Rica Peru the world, as an integral part of combat- ing the root causes of conflicts between World Animal Protection has After failed attempts to control A knowledge, attitudes and In a pilot project on dog bite dogs and the communities they live in. worked with Kenya’s national rabies outbreaks, a new rabies practices survey in Costa Rica prevetion with school teachers government to design and im- elimination strategy incorpo- showed that human behaviour in Peru in 2015, children in- plement a strategy to eliminate rating dog population man- is the root cause and influenc- creased their knowledge on Objectives rabies by 2030. World Animal agement was implemented in ing factor in the roaming dog dog bite prevention by 14% Protection is leading a pilot 2009. Using a combination of population, and highlights the and teacher´s perception of Comprehensive dog population manage- project in Makueni county to education on dog bite preven- need for education on respon- dogs dramatically changed. ment programmes aim to improve the lives show that the integration of tion, rabies vaccination, public sible dog ownership as an inte- of both dogs and the community, includ- dog population management awareness and reproduction gral part of addressing the ing: into rabies elimination pro- control, human and dog rabies root causes of conflict between grammes works to improve the cases reduced to zero by dogs and humans. • Improved lives of both dogs and commu- 2013. There have been no • Increased community acceptance of nities. 70% of Makueni’s dog human cases of rabies or any dogs population will be vaccinated suspected or confirmed dog • Reduced numbers of dog bites by the end of 2016, and the re- rabies cases reported since • Reduction in traffic accidents sults of a Knowledge, Attitudes 2013. and Practices survey will be • Controlling the spread of zoonotic used to design education inter- diseases (OIE 2011) ventions.

Results Conclusion

World Animal Protection follows the Inter- After an initial assessment of the composi- ation will be needed, with consequential World Animal Protection advocates for a national Companion Animal Manage- tion of the dog population (owned, un- adjustments from time to time. long term and comprehensive approach ment coalition (ICAM) dog population owned, size etc.) and the source of roam- The role of the veterinary community: to mitigating conflicts between communi- management methodology . This method- ing population (dumped or abandoned, ties and dogs. This approach views ology recognises that the status and size reproducing successfully on the streets). • Lobbying local and national bodies to animal and community health and welfare of dog populations can vary significantly This will inform the design of a programme implement humane dog management as inextricably connected. Results show countries. As such, no single intervention and the implementation of most, if not all, programmes that this approach has a bigger and will work for all situations. of the following components: • Collaborating with local authorities to better long term effect on the health and run neutering/vaccination clinics welfare of communities and dogs. However, all DPM programmes should • Education • Increasing awareness of dog bite pre focus on the root causes of concerns with • Euthanasia vention The involvement of veterinary communities roaming dog populations, including the • Primary dog health care, including re • Increasing awareness of client aware is imperative in both the design and the source of the population. It is important to production control and vaccination ness and application of responsible delivery of programmes. As per the OIE have all relevant stakeholders involved in • Identification and registration ownership in their local communities, in guidelines on stray dog control, govern- the design and delivery of a programme. • Legislation cluding, reproduction control, parasite ment veterinary services should take re- This includes human and animal health • Holding facilities and rehoming centres control, vaccination and responsible sponsibility for dog population manage- and environmental sectors as well as veter- • Controlling access to resources acquisition ment programmes (OIE 2011) and pri- inary communities. The private veterinary • Advocating for rehoming rescued or vate veterinary community must reach out community are essential as advocates of Once the programme is designed and im- stray dogs to clients to advocate for responsible dog responsible dog ownership practices. plemented, ongoing monitoring and evalu- ownership practices.

Humane DPM programmes that take into consideration the root causes of the prob- lem are the desired solution to dog-relat- References ed issues. These programmes lead to a 1 Massei, G.; Miller, K. (2013) A review of the interactions between free-roaming domestic dogs and wildlife. Theriogenology healthier and protected dog population, 80: 829-838 better public health, and an improved hu- 2 International Companion Animal Management Coalition (2015). “Are we making a difference? A guide to monitoring and evaluating dog population management interventions.” http://www.icam-coalition.org/downloads/ICAM_Are_we_making_a_- man-dog relationship. difference_Updated_Nov2015.pdf. 3 NCBI (2014). “A One Health Framework for the Evaluation of Rabies Control Programmes: A Case Study from Colombo City, Sri Lanka.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207696/ 4 Reece J. F., S. K. Chawla, and A. R. Hiby (2013). “Decline in human dog-bite cases during a street dog sterilisation pro- For further information contact gramme in Jaipur, India.” Journal of British Veterinary Assocation. Veterinary Record, http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/ear- ly/2013/03/13/vr.101079 [email protected] 5 World Organisation for Animal Health –OIE (2011). “Stray dog population control.” Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Ch 7.7. worldanimalprotection.org/animalsincommunities