COMMUNICATING VS ACTIVITIES ON STRAY DOGS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OIE REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON STRAY DOG POPULATION MANAGEMENT FOR BALKAN COUNTRIES BUCHAREST / ROMANIA 17. 19. JUNE 2014 DR. SYLVIA HEESEN
OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATING VS ACTIVITIES ON STRAY DOGS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC Keeping dogs in Germany Animal shelters Lost/ abandoned dogs Keeping and further care Euthanasia Rehoming Strategy Financing Where are the stray dogs in Germany? Rights and obligations of private associations for animal protection Rights and obligations of veterinary service Rights and obligations of private sector veterinarians Call for responsibility to dog owners Dr. Sylvia Heesen
KEEPING DOGS AS A FRIEND, GUIDE-DOG, WATCH-DOG, HUNTING DOG, SHEPHERD-DOG, SPORT- DOG, POLICE-DOG 24.06.2014 Kreis Kleve, Dr. Sylvia Heesen
KEEPING DOGS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANIMAL WELFARE REGULATIONS outside in a kennel (at least 6 m², each side at least 2 m) or On a tether (at least 6 m long, possibility for lateral movement at least 5 m) Protection, e.g. roof against bad weather conditions, thermally isolated hut, water, food, daily cleaning, social contact to other dogs and keeper, daily exercise/walk outside inhouse together with the keeper, daily exercise / walk outside best for social behaviour of the dog (!) dogs as member of a family Dr. Sylvia Heesen
HANDLING DOGS IN COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION forbidden: to abandon pets to test the strength of one animal on another, to incite one animal to attack another or to organize animal fights Movement outside under the control of the owner? obligated: to feed and water the animal to foster and offer health protection to the animal To offer movement outside under the control of the owner To get a permission for special dangerous breeds of dogs to have privately kept dogs and cats neutered by a veterinarian to register dogs, to identify them by microchip Dr. Sylvia Heesen
COMMUNICATING VS ACTIVITIES to the general public: offer personal advice official control of keeping dogs order measures necessary to meet the requirements of animal welfare law and bylaws use imposition of penalties 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
ANIMAL SHELTERS FOR DOGS IN GERMANY LOST AND ABANDONED ANIMALS KEEPING AND FURTHER CARE EUTHANASIA RE-HOMING STRATEGY FINANCING
LOST AND ABANDONED ANIMALS Lost animal: An animal, which dropped out unintentionally by its keeper s and the keeper is looking for it. Abandoned animal: An animal that was intentionally abandoned by its keeper. Finder of an abandoned or lost animal has the obligation to inform the competent authority Lost und abandoned animals become strays, if nobody takes care! Dr. Sylvia Heesen, Official Veterinarian at the Local Veterinary Unit Kleve, Germany
ANIMAL SHELTER FOR DOGS old military area Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Outdoor-Paddocks Indoor-View Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Dr. Sylvia Heesen ESTABLISHMENT
Dr. Sylvia Heesen KENNELS FOR DOGS
Dr. Sylvia Heesen The easy life
Dog kennels in an old farm building Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Fenced-in exercise yard for dogs 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
REHOMING STRATEGY If you want to rehome a dog or find a new owner for it, the dog should have daily social contact to people working in animal shelter, the dog has to learn to obey humans, there should be time with adequate exercise for every dog. 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
EUTHANASIA OF DOGS IN COMPLIANCE Dr. Sylvia Heesen WITH ANIMAL WELFARE LAW Allowed in following cases: Healing process takes too long and causes suffering, and outcome is uncertain Animal is very old and its vital functions are failing Animal suffers from a terminal disease Animal is dangerous to the environment Animal is in agony Animal disease control (clinical signs of rabies!) Not accepted reasons for euthanasia: Finding a new keeper for the animal is difficult or needs long time. Providing a place in animal shelter is too expensive.
REHOMING STRATEGY Find a place for every dog! 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
REHOMING STRATEGY Example for an animal welfare case in Kleve blind kangal with arthrosis: 6 month needed to find a new owner for this lovely dog Using social media and local press Happy end: a new family with children and three more dogs 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Looking for new dog owners in Sarajevo, pictures of SOS Sarajevo
FINANCING OF AN ANIMAL SHELTER competent authority local taxes private association supported by competent authority contract between local authority and private association with obligation to take care on lost or abandoned animals authority pays lump-sum each year or for each animal private association or private person Contribution, donations Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Animal Shelter Prishtina, near the airport
VISITING AN ANIMAL SHELTER IS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY LOOKING FOR A NEW DOG Animal shelter in Berlin 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
COMMUNICATING VS ACTIVITIES to private associations for animal protection: train the trainers! to the general public: Using the chance to promote animal shelter dogs for everyone Using social medias and local press 24.06.2014 Dr. Sylvia Heesen
WHERE ARE THE STRAYS IN GERMANY? 24.06.2014 Kreis Kleve, Dr. Sylvia Heesen
STRAYS - DEFINITION European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals Strasbourg, 13.XI.1987 Kap. I, Art. 1, Nr. 5: By a stray animal is meant a pet animal which either has no home or is outside the bounds of its owner's or keeper's household and is not under the control or direct supervision of any owner or keeper. pet animal: meant any animal kept or intended to be kept by man in particular in his household for private enjoyment and companionship.
ANIMAL WELFARE - LEGISLATION IN EU European treaties, 2009: Animals are called sentient beeings EU-legislation garant free movements of goods, persons and services: EU-Legislation for pets only with respect to animal health or trade No animal welfare regulations for pets in the EU! 24.06.2014 Kreis Kleve, Fachbereich Gesundheit, Dr. Sylvia Heesen
Reasons for strays: Anyway, if we talk about stray cats in Germany or stray dogs in balkan countries, the reasons are always the same!
No acceptance of responsibility for the dog
CATCH AND KILL A SOLUTION? no minimizing of the population new dogs will follow! contradictory to animal welfare legislation Does not usually conform with public view Exception: - animal disease control: Dogs and cats with clinical signs of rabies have to be killed! Dr. Sylvia Heeesen
HOW TO REDUCE POPULATION OF STRAY DOGS? Catch by competent authority or private association of animal protection Neuter, vaccination against rabies, marking with ear tac by veterinarian Release them outside, controlled feeding by private associations of animal protection place in animal shelter only, if the dog shows good contact to humans If possible: place in natural habitat Dr. Sylvia Heesen
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PRIVATE ASSOCIATIONS FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION No obligation from legislation Everybody can support a private association for animal protection and do something for animal welfare Important tasks: Practical animal welfare work at local level Training and advice for animal keepers Building and working in animal shelters Informimng the public about animal welfare problems Organisation of public awareness campaigns for animal welfare Collecting donations Dr. Sylvia Heesen
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF VETERINARY AUTHORITIES rights: Free access to all premises where animals are accommodated or used (including animal shelters) obligation: to carry out regular inspections of all premises where animals are accommodated or used (including dog breeders, dealers and animal shelters) to order the fulfilment of measures necessary the requirements of animal welfare law und bylaws to prohibit the operation of an animal shelter if it does not meet the conditions stipulated by animal welfare law and other relevant bylaws to train and advice private animal welfare associations Dr. Sylvia Heesen
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR VETERINARIANS Obligation to give veterinary assistance in case, an animal is ill or injured Neutering to prevent unwanted animals Vaccination Attention: zoonoses rabies (!) Treatment against parasites tics, fleas, worms Euthanasy, if necessary Dr. Sylvia Heesen
CALL FOR RESPONSIBILITY TO DOG OWNERS Every dog owner should ensure that their dog has a microchip for identification, is registered in a central database, is vaccinated against rabies and other diseases, undergoes regular parasite control, is neutered by a vet, if the pet goes outside without control receives gentle care, because Samos, 2006 Dr. Sylvia Heesen, Kreis Kleve, Fachbereich Gesundheit
a dog will always be a human s best friend! Good luck and success in stray dog population control! Dr. Sylvia Heesen Kreis Kleve, Der Landrat Nassauer Allee 15 23 47533 Kleve Germany 0049-2821-85-232 Sylvia.heesen@kreis-kleve.de