Building a Better World for Dogs: Introducing the Dog Welfare Strategic Framework

For over ten thousand years, humans and dogs have shared one of the most enduring and meaningful relationships in history. From hunting companions to herding assistants, from property guardians to beloved family members, dogs have evolved alongside us — adapting to our changing societies and roles. Today, in a rapidly urbanizing and increasingly complex world, we face new challenges and opportunities in safeguarding their welfare.

Despite decades of progress driven by passionate individuals, nonprofits, and governments, the dog welfare field continues to operate without a unifying structure to connect the many vital efforts underway. Owned dogs, free-roaming dogs, and shelter populations do not exist in silos — they are part of a fluid, interdependent ecosystem. Yet, initiatives across these groups are often fragmented.

The Dog Welfare Strategic Framework is designed to address this fragmentation. It offers a shared structure that aggregates and organizes existing efforts, enabling clearer communication, more effective planning, and strategic alignment across the field. This framework provides a common language and roadmap for organizations working toward one shared goal: a world where all dogs can thrive.

Why a Strategic Framework?

The Dog Welfare Strategic Framework is more than a conceptual model — it’s a practical tool for organizations at every level of the dog welfare movement. It acknowledges the systemic and interconnected nature of dog welfare and supports coordinated action by:

• Helping organizations assess their community’s needs across all areas of dog welfare
• Clarifying each organization’s role within a broader ecosystem
• Enabling consistent, sector-wide communication about goals and initiatives
• Revealing critical gaps in services and interventions
• Identifying new opportunities for collaboration and collective impact.

The Five Strategic Areas

At the heart of the Dog Welfare Strategic Framework are five interrelated strategic areas, each essential to the overall goal of advancing dog welfare globally:

1. Managing Free-Roaming Dogs

An estimated 75% of the world’s dog population roams freely. These dogs — whether loosely owned, community-supported, or entirely unowned — represent both a massive welfare concern and a tremendous opportunity for positive change.

Effective approaches include Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) programs, targeted rabies elimination campaigns, mobile veterinary services, community engagement, and the promotion of coexistence strategies. These efforts reduce suffering while improving public health, safety, and animal-human relationships.

Read Next: How to Manage Free-Roaming Dogs

2. Keeping People and Pets Together

Many dogs are relinquished not due to lack of love, but because of challenges like financial hardship, behavioral issues, or housing instability. Proactive education and critical help at pivotal moments — through pet retention services, food banks, behavioral support, and advocacy for pet-inclusive housing — can prevent unnecessary separation and preserve the human-animal bond.

Programs that support families in crisis not only improve outcomes for dogs but strengthen communities and reduce pressure on shelters and rescues.

3. Optimizing Shelter Operations

Despite our best prevention efforts, some dogs will inevitably enter shelters and sanctuaries. According to Mars’ 2024 report, approximately 12 million dogs currently reside in shelters. These environments, while providing safety, can be inherently stressful for dogs.

Excellence in sheltering involves more than housing — it requires strategic intake, capacity management, thoughtful kennel design, daily enrichment, and adoption practices that prioritize well-being and match success. From playgroups to “doggy day outs” to streamlined adoption processes, high-performing shelters center the dog’s experience and continuously improve outcomes.

4. Raising Professional Care Standards

As dogs become increasingly integrated into our families, they deserve to enjoy a high standard of care we can provide. However, several concerning trends threaten this goal, such as the commoditization of dogs for profit, corporatization of veterinary practices, the rise of unregulated pet-related industries, and misinformation on social media.

To protect both dogs and their guardians, the sector must invest in professional development, standard-setting, certification programs, and legislative advocacy that elevate ethical, evidence-based practices.

5. Unleashing the Potential of the Human-Dog Bond

Dogs are more than companions — they are catalysts for connection, emotional well-being, and societal benefit. From supporting children’s development to aiding veterans with PTSD, from conservation detection work to combating loneliness in urban settings, dogs offer immense value.

Tapping into this potential requires community design, owner education, inclusive policies, and initiatives that showcase dogs as positive contributors to society — especially in spaces where their presence is contested.

The Foundation: Four Essential Organizational Functions

To deliver sustainable impact in any of these areas, organizations must also strengthen their internal capacity. The Dog Welfare Strategic Framework identifies four core organizational functions that serve as the foundation for long-term success:

1. Identifying Root Causes & Setting Goals

Effective change begins with clarity. By using tools like problem tree analysis and community needs assessments, organizations can understand the drivers behind dog welfare issues and define bold, achievable goals rooted in local realities.

2. Tailoring Programs & Measuring Impact

Well-designed programs with clear objectives and metrics allow organizations to track progress, communicate results, and adapt strategies. This results-oriented approach fosters trust with partners, funders, and the public.

3. Securing Support & Managing Resources

Financial sustainability, human capital, and operational efficiency are non-negotiable for organizations seeking meaningful, long-term impact. Building robust fundraising pipelines and cultivating community support are key.

4. Ensuring Governance & Fostering Trust

Transparent governance and ethical practices lay the groundwork for credibility and influence. Organizations must uphold the highest standards of accountability and stakeholder communication.

A Shared Vision for the Future

After ten millennia of evolution together, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the human-dog relationship. We now have the tools, knowledge, and global momentum to take a more coordinated, strategic approach to improving life for all dogs.

The Dog Welfare Strategic Framework helps us move forward — together. It invites organizations to see their work not in isolation, but as part of a shared mission. By aligning around this framework, we can achieve more than any one organization could alone.

Together, we can realize the full potential of the human-dog bond—not just for individual animals and their people, but for communities, ecosystems, and future generations.

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The Dog Welfare Strategic Framework aggregates the collective wisdom of advocates, professionals, and organizations worldwide who are committed to improving life for all dogs. Together, we can build a better world for our four-legged partners.