Dog population management programs provide a more effective solution than culling for addressing issues like rabies transmission and human-dog conflicts. Such programs integrate components like education, healthcare, identification, legislation, and reproduction control to establish a stable, healthy dog population. Implementing these holistic programs in line with One Health principles has resulted in decreased rabies deaths and bites in places like Zanzibar while improving dog welfare.

1. Dog population management:
Integrated solutions for animals and
people
Dr Emelie Fogelberg, Beryl Mutonono-Watkiss, Ellie Parravani, Pankaj KC,

2. What’s the problem?
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There are 700 million dogs globally
Most are free roaming although
owned
Often well tolerated, but some
conflicts can occur:
• Rabies
• Dog bites
• Nuisance

3. Dogs in communities
Presentation title goes here
Benefits of dogs in communities:
companionship, security,
assistance, disease detection etc.
Research evidence on positive
effects on human health and
wellbeing

4. The root causes
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Poor public perception
Irresponsible dog breeding
Lack of veterinary input
Deficient legislation
Political reasons
Disease (rabies)
Nuisance
Dog bites
Poor dog welfare
Road traffic accidents
Livestock predation
Wildlife predation
Fear

5. Dog culls are not the answer
Widespread misconception that culling reduces population
Culling is an immediate stop gap measure, but problem soon returns
Evidence shows culls are expensive and ineffective
Methods used are often inhumane
Many owned dogs that have been vaccinated are killed, lowering
70% effective vaccination coverage, decreasing herd immunity
People bring in new unvaccinated, unneutered dogs from other areas

6. Dog population management
programmes are the answer
Mass dog vaccination only proven solution to eliminate rabies
Dog population management keeps population stable and
healthy – and eliminates other conflicts
Components of a DPM programme are set out in the
International Companion Animal Management Coalition
(ICAM) guidelines.
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

7. Components
Education
Primary dog
healthcare
Identification
and
registration
Legislation
Holding
facilities and
rehoming
Controlling
access to
resources
Euthanasia
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world
Components of a DPM programme

8. One Health in DPM
Animals
EnvironmentPeople
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

9. Design Steps for ‘One Health’
Programme
Monitoring and
evaluation
Implementing
the programme
Planning the
intervention
Assessing the
problem
Understanding
the problem
Identification of
approaches
Prioritization
and resource
allocation
Identification of
underlying
causes
Assessment of
local situation

10. Stakeholders
At national and regional level:
Legislators
Min of Agriculture: vets and animal
health depts.
Min of Environment: sanitation depts.
Ministry of Health: public health,
zoonotic disease depts.
Ministry of Education: School and
Civic dept.
Ministry of Tourism
WHO, OIE, FAO
NGO community
Local community leaders and reps
Academia: institutions and
community
Private medical & veterinary
community
Media: radio, TV, social media,
community media, Print, TV
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

11. World Animal Protection’s work
We partner with several governments
to implement humane dog population
management integrated in their
rabies elimination programmes
The programmes include:
Mass dog vaccination campaigns
Reproduction control
Dog bite prevention and
management
Responsible dog ownership
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Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

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Zanzibar

13. Zanzibar: the results
65% decrease in dog bite incidences
100% decrease in human rabies deaths
Last death was a child November 2013
Last case of confirmed or suspected rabies in dog December
2013
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

14. Presentation title goes here

15. Bangladesh
Used to cull dogs for decades to
control rabies
Lobbying by World Animal
Protection and other
organizations saw a change of
approach from culling to MDV
One round of vaccinations has
taken place in 63 of 64
municipalities. MDV is now taking
place across at District level.

16. Bangladesh
Dog bite prevention centres in all 64
districts
Government sees the need to move
into DPM to improve dog welfare
Planning registration schemes and ‘dog
ownership’ promotion (getting local
committees to feed and care for free
roaming dogs)
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18. Dubai
Used to have a large visible unowned
free roaming dog population
Used to shoot dogs in response
World Animal Protection supported
Municipality in drawing up DPM plans
World Animal Protection provided
training on dog catching and neutering
Since 2004, all components of DPM
programme have been implemented.

19. Dubai: where we are now
“The dog population management programme… as recommended by World Animal Protection,
has resulted in greatly reducing human animal conflict and this conflict has been proved
worldwide to be a motivating and visible animal welfare problem.
The Dubai community has benefitted as the programme has resulted in zero transmission of
zoonotic diseases, elimination of bite injuries and phobia of dogs due to unpredictable and
aggressive behaviour. Dogs have benefitted as the programme has eliminated many welfare
problems, such as disease, road traffic accidents, mistreatment and malnutrition. Inhumane
control methods, such as poisoning and cruel handling are now totally out of the implemented
system.”
Mohammed Yousif Al Hammadi, Head of Veterinary Therapeutic Unit, Dubai Municipality

20. Conclusion
DPM has benefits for dogs and communities
• Healthier dog populations
• Improved human-dog relationships
• Public health benefits
Rabies can be eliminated with MDV. Holistic DPM can keep the
population stable and healthy, and tackle human-dog conflicts
More data are needed on the efficacy of each component.
Integrating dog population management into rabies elimination programmes around the world

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Thank you for listening!

22. References
Haesler, B., Gregory. N. Bennani. H., et al (2012). Evaluation of rabies control in
the province of Bali, Indonesia: A comprehensive framework to evaluate rabies
control strategies taking into account economics, animal welfare, epidemiology,
social acceptability and ethics. London, UK: Royal Veterinary Collage
International Companion Animal management Coalition (2008). Humane dog
population management guidance. http://www.icam-
coalition.org/downloads/humane_Dog_Population_Management_Guidance_Englis
h.pdf (Embargoed on 21 September 2015).
Morters. M et al (2014). The demography of free roaming dog populations and
applications to disease and population control. Journal of Applied Ecology. 51pp.
1096-1106
World Animal Protection (2013). Controlling rabies. One humane solution, three
reasons why.
http://www.worldanimalprotection.org/sites/default/files/int_files/controlling_rabies-
one_humane_solution.pdf (embargoed on 14th August 2015)
World Animal Protection (2015). Humane dog management. Better lives for
dogs and communities