Key Findings
In Dehiwala, the CNVR intervention targeting female, unowned free-roaming dogs was associated with a decline in the overall unowned dog population. During the same period, complaints about public nuisances and animal abuse also decreased.
Researchers found that complaints from the public increased during mating season.
While CNVR interventions showed promising results, the researchers emphasized the need to prevent pets from being abandoned and adding to the FRD population.
Summary
The implementation of the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) intervention in Sri Lanka has a significant history rooted in the “No Kill” policy introduced in 2006. This policy aimed to humanely manage the free-roaming dog (FRD) population without resorting to euthanasia. Initially, the approach involved sterilizing female stray dogs using contraceptive hormones. Over time, with the advancement of surgical sterilization techniques and the support of non-governmental organizations and municipal councils, the CNVR intervention evolved by 2010. Currently, the government is involved with CNVR at the provincial level.
Despite the substantial resources invested in CNVR interventions, the impact of these activities on FRD population abundance, public nuisances, and dog abuse remains unclear. The primary aim of this study, titled “Determination of CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release) Model Effect: Stray Dog Population Management, Public Nuisance, and Dog Abuse in Sri Lanka,” was to assess the long-term effectiveness of the CNVR intervention in managing the FRD population and mitigating related issues.
The study was conducted over a period from January 2013 to December 2020 in the Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat area, which covers an area of 8 km² and has a population of 88,962 people, based on the 2012 population statistics. The area is characterized by a diverse population in terms of religion, ethnicity, and culture, and consists of 15 divisional secretariat blocks.
The study involved two main activities: surveillance of the FRD population abundance and the surgical sterilization of female dogs. Surveillance was conducted every two years starting from 2013, carried out by simple observation. The counts were carried out through the entire study area, between 6:30am and 9:30am, during the months of March and April. The counting was strictly limited to unowned free-roaming dogs, by repeated announcements urging owners to leash their dogs before the count.
Surgical sterilization was performed annually, specifically targeting female FRDs within the study area. The initial sterilization effort in 2013/14 focused on both dogs identified in 2013 and all abandoned female dogs during that period. Subsequent efforts in 2015/16 saw 90% of CNVR procedures performed on abandoned FRDs. In 2017/18 and 2019/20, the total number of CNVR procedures included abandoned dogs across all age categories. Over the years, the number of surgeries declined significantly from over 300 to 99, correlating with the bi-annual unowned FRD count results, which showed a decline in the number of dogs from 931 in 2013 to 642 in 2019.
Over the study period, public nuisances such as barking and howling, attacks on people and cyclists, environmental pollution, pack behavior, and animal abuse were all reduced. Many of these cases were linked to the community’s non-adherence to dog bite prevention instructions provided during awareness programs conducted throughout the study period. Analysis of public complaints revealed a higher frequency of complaints during the dogs’ mating season, highlighting the importance of CNVR in addressing these issues.
The study showed that during the CNVR intervention period, both the unowned FRD population and public nuisances declined significantly. However, the abandonment of owned animals remains a concern, as they continue to contribute to the FRD population. The researchers recommended several important measures to be carried out alongside the CNVR intervention, including strengthening legal codes, increasing education and awareness, promoting responsible dog ownership, improving veterinary facilities to make them more affordable, and establishing animal shelters.
Data From Study:
Dog Population Management / Case Studies / Deliwala, Sri Lanka (2023)
Year of Publication:
2023
External Link:
Pallewatte, Aruna & Jayasundara, Kumudini & Khatibi, Ali & Tham, Jacquline. (2023). Determination of CNVR (Catch – Neuter – Vaccinate- Release) Model Effect: Stray Dog Population Management, Public Nuisance and Dog Abuse in Sri Lanka. The Indian veterinary journal. 100. 7-15.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376796094_Determination_of_CNVR_Catch_-_Neuter_-_Vaccinate-_Release_Model_Effect_Stray_Dog_Population_Management_Public_Nuisance_and_Dog_Abuse_in_Sri_Lanka