STRAY DOG POPULATION CONTROL TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH CODE CHAPTER 7.7. 5 8 August 2014, Tokyo/Yokohama-Japan Tikiri Wijayathilaka, OIE RRAP, Tokyo, Japan 1
Presentation outline o History of the chapter o Why did the OIE develop this chapter? o OIE questionnaire on dog population control o Preamble o Guiding principles o Dog population control program objectives o Case studies o Responsibilities and competencies o Development of a dog population control program o Control measures o Monitoring and evaluation of a dog population control program 2
History of the chapter 2006 May 5 th meeting of WG on Animal Welfare TOR Modified to concentrate on dog population control 2007 March Draft Guidelines TAHSC 2009 March Annex XV TAHSC Draft Chapter 2009 May Resolution No 30 approved at OIE 77 th General Session 3
Links to capture the history http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/home/eng/about_us/docs/pdf/a_reso_ 2009_PUB.pdf - RESOLUTION No. 30-77 GS/FR PARIS, May 2009 http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/home/eng/internationa_standard_settin g/docs/pdf/a_tahsc_march2009_parta.pdf - Annex XV - OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / March 2009 http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/home/eng/internationa_standard_settin g/docs/pdf/a_tahsc_march2007_partc.pdf - Appendix VII - DRAFT GUIDELINES DOG POPULATION CONTROL - OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards commission/march 2007 http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/home/eng/internationa_standard_settin g/docs/pdf/a_tahsc_october2006.pdf - REPORT OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE OIE WORKING GROUP ON ANIMAL WELFARE Paris, 4-6 July 2006 Item No 12 - Stray animal control TOR modified to concentrate on dog population control programs 4
Why did the OIE develop this chapter? More than 55 000 people die each year from rabies, majority are children and in many cases the source of infection is a stray dog 99% human rabies deaths are due to dog bites Many millions of animals contract and die of rabies each year Stray dogs pose serious human health, socio-economic, political and animal welfare problems in many countries of the world, and especially in developing countries and in least developed countries. (Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev) 5
OIE questionnaire on dog population control To study and evaluate the problem and collect relevant data, a questionnaire on dog population control was distributed to all OIE countries, the survey comprised 17 questions and they were divided into two sections: General information on the dog population (presence, distribution and problems) Stray dog control (presence of official control programmes, different methods employed) http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/home/eng/internationa_standard_setting/docs/pdf/a_tahsc_march2007_partc.pdf (Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev) 6
Are free roaming dogs a problem? Are free roaming dogs a problem? Are free roaming dogs a problem? EUROPE (30 countries) No 40% Yes 47% HDI - Human Development Index In some areas 13% (Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev) 7
Preamble Scope of these recommendations is to deal with stray and feral dogs, which pose serious human health, animal health and welfare problems and have a socio-economic, environmental, political and religious impact in many countries Human health, including the prevention of zoonotic diseases, notably rabies, is a priority Dog population management is an integral part of rabies control programs 8
Preamble cont. OIE recognizes the importance of controlling dog populations without causing unnecessary animal suffering Veterinary Services should play a lead role in preventing zoonotic diseases and ensuring animal welfare and should be involved in dog population control, coordinating their activities with other competent public institutions and/or agencies 9
Guiding principles 10
Guiding principles - Article 7.7.1. Recommendations are based on those laid down in Chapter 7.1. (Animal Welfare) Some additional principles are relevant to these recommendations; Promotion of responsible dog ownership can significantly reduce the numbers of stray dogs and the incidence of zoonotic diseases Because dog ecology is linked with human activities, control of dog populations has to be accompanied by changes in human behavior to be effective 11
Objectives of Dog population control program 12
Objectives of Dog population control program - Article 7.7.3. Promote responsible ownership Improve health and welfare of owned and stray dog population Assist in the creation and maintenance of a rabies immune or rabies free dog population Reduce numbers of stray dogs to an acceptable level 13
Objectives of Dog population control program cont. Reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases other than rabies Manage other risks to human health (e.g. parasites) Prevent harm to the environment and other animals Prevent illegal trade and trafficking 14
Case Studies 15
ABC Program Jodhpur - India The Marwar Trust runs Animal Birth Control (ABC) program since 2004. 2004-2014 76,406 dogs (36,401 females and 40,005 males) have been sterilized and vaccinated for rabies. 30 000 roaming dogs in Jodhpur (Hiby, 2012) Yearly mark-re-sight surveys have shown that the herd immunity achieved is consistently between 85 and 90% Jodhpur population of 800 000 inhabitants Dr. Rastislav Kolesar, Dr. Gardner Murray WORKSHOP ON RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DOG RABIES CHIANG MAI, THAILAND 11-13 JUNE 2014 16
Disease control through fertility control: Secondary benefits of animal birth control in Indian street dogs: Andrew J. Yoaka, John F. Reece, Stanley D. Gehrtc, Ian M. Hamilton - Preventive Veterinary Medicine (1) survey sexually intact street dogs for a wide range of diseases in three cities in Rajasthan, India and (2) evaluate links between the health of non-treated dogs and both the presence and duration of animal birth control (ABC) programs. Viral and bacterial disease sero-prevalences were assessed in 240 sexually intact street dogs from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Sawai Madhopur cities in October and September 2011. Dogs in cities with an ABC program had with significantly (p < 0.05) higher overall body condition scores, lower prevalence of open wounds likely caused by fighting, flea infestations, infectious canine hepatitis, Ehrlichia canis, Leptospira interrogans serovars, and canine distemper virus antibodies. [However, found high number of brown dog ticks and no difference in Canine Parvo Virus and Brucella canis] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s0167587713002833 17
Control of rabies in Jaipur, India, by the sterilization and vaccination of neighbourhood dogs: J. F. Reece, S. K. Chawla A program to sterilize and vaccinate neighborhood dogs against rabies was established in Jaipur, India. Neighborhood dogs were captured humanely, sterilized surgically, vaccinated against rabies and, when they had recovered, released where they had been caught. Between November 1994 and December 2002, 24,986 dogs were treated in this way. Direct observational surveys of the local dog population indicated that Sixty five per cent (65%) of the females were sterilized and vaccinated and that the population declined by 28 per cent. The records of human cases of rabies seen in the main government hospital of the city between January 1992 and December 2002 showed that the number of cases had declined to zero in the program area but increased in other areas. Veterinary Record (2006) 159, 379-383 18
Responsibilities and competencies 19
Key stakeholders and their main responsibilities Vet Authority Public Health Environment Ag Private Vets Responsible to implement animal health and welfare legislations May play a leading role in zoonoses control, stray dog control Control problems associated with stray dogs Provide advice to dog owners, handlers may be the 1 st to see case NGO Important partner to VS, public awareness, provide local knowledge Local Govt. Dog Owner Responsible to develop & implement laws for dog ownership Immediate acceptance of responsibility of dog, offspring For full details, please visit the page http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&l=0&htmfile=chapitre_aw_stray_dog.htm 20
Development of a dog population control program 21
Development of a dog population control program Article 7.7.5. Recommends that the authorities establish an advisory group Should include: Veterinarians Experts in - dog ecology, dog behavior and zoonotic diseases Representatives of relevant stakeholders (local authorities, human health authorities, environmental control authorities, NGOs and the public) 22
Main purpose of the advisory group Obtain public opinion on dog Analyze and quantify the problem Identify the cause Propose the most effective approaches to use in the short and long term 23
Important considerations Identifying the sources of stray dogs Estimating the existing number, distribution and ecology Regulatory framework Resources available to authorities 24
Control measures 25
Possible control measures Article 7.7.6. 26
Education on responsible dog ownership should address 27
Euthanasia When euthanasia is practiced, general principles in the Terrestrial Code should be followed It should have emphasis on using the most practical, rapid and humane methods Should ensure operator safety Regardless of the method used, it is important to minimize distress, anxiety and pain 28
Monitoring and evaluation of dog population control programs 29
Monitoring and evaluation of dog population control programs - Article 7.7.7. Allows for comparison of important indicators against the baselines measured during initial assessment (see Article 7.7.5) Three main reasons for carrying out monitoring and evaluation are: to help improve performance, by highlighting both problems and successful elements of interventions for accountability, to demonstrate that the program is achieving its aims assuming methods are standardized, to compare the success of strategies used in different locations and situations 30
Elements that should generally be monitored and evaluated Dog population size, separated into subpopulations according to ownership and restriction of movement Dog welfare, in the target population and as a result of the program Prevalence of zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, in both the animal and human population Responsible animal ownership, including measures of attitudes and understanding of responsible ownership and evidence that this is translating into responsible behavior 31
Sources of information for monitoring and evaluation Feedback from the local community (e.g. through the use of structured questionnaires, focus groups or open format consultation processes) Records and opinions obtained from relevant professionals (e.g. veterinarians, medical doctors, law enforcement agencies, educators) Animal based measurements (e.g. direct observation surveys of population size and welfare status) 32
Important Output of activities against budget should be carefully recorded in order to evaluate the effort (or cost) against the outcomes and impact (or benefit) that are reflected in the results of monitoring and evaluation 33
.that are reflected in the results of monitoring and evaluation. 34
Thank you for your attention! 35