Bucharest 17-19 June 2014 First OIE regional workshop on dog population management- Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population Alexandra Hammond-Seaman RSPCA International
RSPCA mission The RSPCA will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of all animals
The RSPCA is the worlds oldest animal welfare organisation is a charity and receives no government funding has 4 science departments for companion, farm and laboratory animals, and wildlife enforces UK animal welfare law through its inspectorate campaigns, lobbies and educates for improved conditions for animals.
The RSPCA Scale - 159,686 cruelty complaints investigated in 2012-2,441 convictions secured in 2012-130,033 animals collected and rescued in 2012-64,086 animals re-homed in 2012-67,388 animals microchipped and 79,810 animals neutered in 2012-41 branch-run clinics - 51 animal centres
RSPCA International. Where? East Asia Europe Africa What? Advice Links to organisation s Suppor t Training courses
RSPCA on stray dogs Support initial dog population assessment and community surveys. Work with the key stakeholders to develop targeted and comprehensive intervention measures. Provide advice and technical assistance for the competent authorities and DPM programme managers. Deliver catching and handling and shelter training for municipal staff, service providers, veterinarians and NGOs. Support awareness raising and education activities.
HUMANE DOG POPULATION MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE Available in: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin and Thai
RSPCA in Europe Central and Eastern Europe Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine Southern Europe and Balkans Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Greece, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EuroAsia Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia
RSPCA in Europe
RSPCA in the Balkans WBVN was established in 2008 in collaboration with a number of regional partners Aims: -to initiate and develop research in the field of animal welfare -to achieve closer collaboration between stakeholders -to facilitate cross border academic and scientific co-operation -to assist implementation and enforcement of the EU legal framework and OIE standards -to develop professional training and education initiatives in the relevant fields
WBVN- Companion animals -Stray dog population surveys to gather data on numbers and sources. -WBVN members promote humane, scientific and practical approaches to dog population management. -Disseminate information with the competent authorities and propose solutions.
RSPCA in the Balkans February 2014 Animal welfare expert meeting held in Tuhelj, Croatia organised by the RSPCA and the Croatian Veterinary Institute March 2014- Regional Animal Welfare Centre was established in Zagreb, the secretariat is provided by the Croatian Veterinary Institute and supported by the RSPCA. Members of the steering group are HR, MK, SR, BG, SL, but the RAWC will have a truly regional agenda. Priorities of the RAWC: amongst other priorities related to farm and research animals we will develop -a regional action plan for DPM complementary to the initiatives carried out by of the OIE AW platform for Europe -a regional disaster response plan in response to recent severe floods There is RAWC group on LinkedIn you can join and see all the relevant strategy documents, action plans etc.
Key points from yesterday - No baseline data, no country systematically collects data on stray dogs, population trends etc. - No clear programme objectives, all things mixed together and hoping for the best -Prevalence towards CNR as a more publically acceptable approach results?! -Political pressure to outlaw euthanasia as a measure of stray dog control -Inadequate systems and infrastructure for animal control/ lack of capacity in the municipal stray control provisions- space then inhabited by NGOs, good and bad -Lack of clear competencies WHO is responsible for what? -Strategies don t target the problem groups of dogs, those that are responsible for MAINTAINING the stray dog population.
Dog population management Targeting the source
Dog population management Where do they come from?
OIE stray dog control guidelines Owned dog: means a dog with a person that claims responsibility. Stray dog: means any dog not under direct control by a person or not prevented from roaming. Types of stray dog: 1. free-roaming owned dog not under direct control or restriction at a particular time; 2. free-roaming dog with no owner; 3. feral dog: domestic dog that has reverted to the wild state and is no longer directly dependent upon humans for successful reproduction.
Where are the dogs coming from? - the make-up of the roaming dog population - the source(s) of the roaming dogs Owned roaming Abandoned Lost community dog stray born on street
ICAM, 2007 Dog population management One size does not fit all
Identifying the problem Initial assessment Management strategies should aim to target the source of the problem and not only treat the symptoms -What is the current size of the population and what are the characteristics of the specific dog population. - Where are the dogs coming from? Where are these sources? What is the level of commercial and hobby breeding? - What are the problems perceived and what is currently done to control these problems? - Who is responsible for this control? - Who are the relevant stakeholders? - What is the prevailing public opinion/attitudes to this issues? What people think/what people do?
Factors influencing dog population size Human attitudes and behavior Reproductive capacity of the population Access to resources Community resources and stakeholder action
What do we need to know (basics): ABOUT DOGS Number of dogs on the street Dynamics of the stray population (owned vs stray, welfare, sex, age, females lactating/pregnant, puppies) Resource access: what keeps the dogs alive and reproducing Size of owned dog population
Factors motivating people to control dog populations -Zoonotic disease -Current roaming dog population -Poor welfare of the roaming population -Risk to the public -Nuisance
What do we need to know (basics): ABOUT PEOPLE Public Attitude (What people think, what people want) Human Behaviour (What people do) Public attitudes toward strays? Toward their own dogs? Public awareness of connection between stray and owned ( stray might be owned roaming, but creating puppies) Public awareness and attitudes toward principles of responsible pet ownership (vaccination, sterilisation, controlled reproduction) What are people s concerns? Rabies? Bites? Barking? Do people want dogs on the street? vs. Do people want dogs killed? Will people tolerate community dogs if safe/healthy, not aggressive and sterilised? Why do people own dogs? How do they treat their owned dogs? Training? Do people let their dogs roam? Abandon? What do they do with unwanted puppies when their dog gets pregnant? What are most common issues that people cannot cope with (causing abandonment)? Disease, behaviour, money, etc.
Are we making a difference ICAM Coalition is developing a M&E tool around key impacts of DPM programmes. This study select the most common impacts of DPM interventions and a set of measurable indicators. There is no single desired impact of a DPM intervention rather each intervention may have one or more of a range of impacts. This tool does not tell you how to run a DPM intervention look to the humane dog population management guidance for this it tells you how to measure the impact of your intervention, whatever activities you have decided to use.
Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population Before an intervention is launched it is necessary to measure the baseline of indicators selected to reflect the impact.
Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population If you don t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there? What impacts is the intervention striving to achieve? Monitoring and evaluation- Success depends on knowing what works
Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population Possible impacts: - Improve dog health and welfare status - Reduce dog population density/population turnover - Reduce risks to public health - Improve public perception of dogs - Improve shelter performance - Reduce negative impact on wildlife - Reduce negative impact of dogs on livestock
Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population Methods of measurements: -Street surveys are an efficient method of collecting data relating to a range of indicators. They are particularly suitable for M&E because they can be repeated several times over the course of an intervention. -Direct observation to estimate a total dog population -Questionnaires -Participatory method -Secondary sources on information- official or government derived information -Clinic records
Survey methodologies Population estimates are necessary for developing an intervention and of M&E, combined with further info on dog ecology and human behavior. The choice of methods depends on the ratio of owned vs. ownerless dogs. Eg. For large proportion of owned dogs it may be sufficient to consult dog registration, rabies vaccination records and conduct household surveys. Surveys should establish the number of owned dogs and dog:human ratio. For ownerless dogs direct observation is the recommended method: Counting of dogs visible in a defined area. Surveying roaming dog populations: guidelines on methodology OIE 7.7.8 An overview of appropriate methods for estimating the population size http://www.icam-coalition.org/resources.html
Survey methodologies- Direct observation - Visibility of dogs depends on the physical environment and human and dog activity. - The visibility changes through the day, depending on food, human activity etc. - Repeated standardized counting in designated areas and specific times will provide indication of population trends. - Direct counting is most reliable when applied to relatively confined communities, where it may be possible to recognise all individual dogs. - Census surveys should be completed within up to 2 wks in order to reduce demographic changes. Surveying roaming dog populations: guidelines on methodology OIE 7.7.8 An overview of appropriate methods for estimating the population size http://www.icam-coalition.org/resources.html
Additional information about the composition of dog population Dog population surveys Number Male, female, puppy, lactating Collars On leash (with owner) Community engagement Talking to people to find out their opinions (attitudes), behaviour Who owns a dog? Who owns that dog on the street? Questionnaires Focus groups
Monitoring and evaluation Recommended indicators for measuring reduction in population density: -Dog density along streets the average number of roaming dogs along the streets will remain a valid indicator of the impact of the intervention. -Measuring the number of dogs per km pf street is relatively easy as compared to establishing an accurate estimate of total population size.
Monitoring and evaluation Recommended indicators for measuring a reduction in population turnover: -Percentage of lactating females an important component of dog population turnover is the birth rate of puppies, however reliably measuring the number of puppies in roaming population can be challenging. The % of lactating females in the roaming dog population is more reliable statistics, hence lactating females are an indicator of fecundity in the RDP and a proxy for the number of puppies born. - A female is defined as lactating if her mammary glands are visibly swollen.
Identifying the source of the problem and monitoring the stray dog population In summary: We need to be accountable. Are we making a difference? What problem are we trying to solve? Has the intervention brought desirable results?