Strategic Area One
MANAGING FREE-ROAMING DOGS
Issue | Guides | Case Studies | Organizations | Tools | Courses
Issue
Three Out of Four Dogs In the World Roams Freely.
Street dogs are a common sight in many urban areas. While many have owners and others are cared for by the community, some of these animals lack access to basic care. Many people in the community are afraid of the dogs, and the threat of rabies is real. This makes street dogs a major urban management issue, as well as a Dog Welfare Strategic Framework strategic area.
However, there’s hope. By implementing solutions to address dog overpopulation and eradicate rabies, we can transform these street dogs from a perceived threat back into the loyal companions they were always meant to be.
Across the globe, from Australian villages to Zambian cities, people and free-roaming dogs share their lives. For tens of millennia, these dogs have been deeply woven into the fabric of daily life, often fulfilling vital roles from herding to guarding. They’re seen as much a part of the natural landscape as any local wildlife.
However, this traditional harmony is increasingly fragile, especially with the persistent threat of rabies, which still plagues over 150 countries. This deadly disease not only condemns both infected dogs and their human bite victims to agonizing deaths, but also fuels widespread, inhumane culling campaigns, often indiscriminately killing healthy and friendly dogs.
Rapid urbanization further strains this coexistence. As human populations grow denser, so do canine populations, with a single female dog and her offspring potentially contributing up to 27,000 puppies in a lifetime due to abundant urban resources. This proliferation exacerbates conflicts: dogs hunting for food or protecting pups become territorial, increasing bite incidents in compact environments. Mating competition also escalates human-dog tensions, while the risk to pets and livestock adds another layer of complexity.
Equally, free-roaming dogs endure immense suffering. Intense competition for food, water, and shelter leads to malnutrition, and injuries often go untreated due to lack of veterinary care. Moreover, the pervasive fear of rabies alone can trigger acts of animal abuse, with dogs being chased and harmed.
Effectively addressing these challenges demands that communities unite to confront their root causes, such as abandonment and insufficient sterilization efforts. Furthermore, a coordinated effort between human medicine and veterinary science is crucial for combating rabies risk through widespread vaccination campaigns. Ultimately, managing free-roaming dog populations and improving their welfare necessitates a truly holistic approach.
We examine the complex interplay between these animals and urban environments and evaluate various dog population management (DPM) strategies including CNVR and responsible dog ownership.
Rabies Reality Check: 20 Statistics on Rabies
This collection of 20 statistics on rabies reveals critical gaps in vaccination coverage, public knowledge, and prevention strategies that must be addressed to eliminate this preventable disease.
Guides
A Helping Hand for Free-Roaming Dogs
Understand & Plan
Before intervention, it is essential to obtain a comprehensive understanding of 1) free-roaming dog population dynamics, 2) community knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning rabies, and 3) the diverse range of humane management strategies.
Build
Based on identified community problems, develop core services aligned with the ICAM framework or construct a rabies elimination workplan adhering to GARC guidelines, ensuring full consideration of the local sensitivities.
Monitor & Evaluate
Monitoring the density and welfare of free-roaming dogs, alongside their impact on human communities, is crucial for assessing the success of rabies eradication and dog population management programs.
Case Studies
Triumphs of the Underdogs
Eliminating Rabies to Foster Acceptance
In Ilocos Norte, Philippines, a rabies eradication effort led by a coalition was documented by researchers from the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), outlining key strategies and timeline.
Educating for Canine Welfare
Community education is essential for addressing the street dog issue. By teaching rabies prevention, promoting responsible ownership, and building professional capacity on dog welfare, we can create a more humane environment.
Applying CNVR to Stabilize Population
CNVR is a long, multi-decade journey, but success can be obtained with the right support. Over a five-year period, Soi Dog Foundation successfully reduced Bangkok’s street dog population by 24%.
Structuring Community Dog Programs
A well-managed community dog program, like the one in Abruzzo, Italy, implemented since 2001, can transform the chaos of free-roaming dogs into harmonious coexistence between people and animals.
Giving Street Dogs A Second Life
Many stray dogs can successfully transition into loving homes with patience and appropriate training. Researchers in Portugal explored the rehabilitation process that begins in shelters and its positive impact.
Organizations Focusing On Free-Roaming Dogs
ICAM is a global forum that supports the development and use of humane and effective companion animal population management worldwide.
GARC is dedicated to eliminating deaths from canine rabies by 2030 through global partnerships, awareness campaigns like World Rabies Day, and in-country capacity building.
Battersea works internationally to manage free-roaming dogs by providing training, funding, and sharing their expertise with global animal welfare organizations.
Eurogroup for Animals tackles the stray dog situation primarily through advocacy and lobbying for stronger, harmonized EU legislation on identification and registration.
FOUR PAWS implements community-led programs globally to manage stray animal populations humanely and sustainably through methods like CNVR.
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IFAW
IFAW provides emergency veterinary care and food and implements community-based education, veterinary services, and rehoming such as the Northern Dogs Project in Canada.
Relevant Tools
A curated list of tools to equip dog welfare advocates for better free-roaming dog management and enhanced community dog welfare.
This document outlines how to assess dog population management needs and how to select and implement the most effective approach.
SARE is a practical One Health tool designed by GARC to guide the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of rabies control programs.
This ICAM guide focuses on measuring the impact of DPM interventions by suggesting key indicators for free-roaming dogs and the public.
Useful Courses
A curated list of courses for dog welfare advocates aiming to manage free-roaming dog populations and improve community dog welfare.
ICAM
Implementing DPM
This self-paced online course builds essential competencies for managing dog populations, targeting learners involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring, or evaluation of DPM initiatives.
IFAW & CATF
Managing Dogs in First Nations
This online workshop guides participants in working with Indigenous communities to improve the well-being of dogs and people, complemented by an interactive course and comprehensive guide.
Designed for anyone interested in rabies prevention, this self-paced course covers how the disease is caused, how it can be prevented, and how it can even be eliminated in communities.
This self-paced online course presents a participatory framework enabling communities to collaboratively develop humane, sustainable solutions for challenging dog-related issues.
Next Strategic Area: Keeping People & Pets Together