Dog/Cat Population Management The CARO approach Sophie Duthoit EU Companion Animals Policy and Legal Coordinator VIER PFOTEN European Policy Office
What does CARO stand for?
How it started Starting point: In 2010, there were no reliable scientific and legal information on dogs and cats available for free on the Internet We wanted to create a platform for sharing knowledge, in particular on dog/ cat population management The initiators of the projects are: - The European Policy Office of FOUR PAWS, Brussels - The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell Abruzzo e del Molise G Caporale, Teramo, Italy Partners are: The European Commission The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) for CAROcat
The CARO websites www.carodog.eu www.carocat.eu
Further activities: The CAROmag and the CARO Award CAROmag Linked to special focus 1st issued on December 2015 (I&R) 2nd one in September 2016 (Dog trade) CARO Award First presented to Mr Jacques Grimanelli, former President of EuroPetNet, on 21st June 2016, for his pioneer work toward I&R in Europe
The Responsible Ownership «Package» Comprehensive and precise animal welfare legislation based on the principle that all animals are sentient beings (Art 13 TFEU) A strong political will (that doesn t depend from elections) Proper enforcement and adequate Penalties Education of kids and adults + professional trainings Systematic birth control of all unowned animals Sheltering only as a temporary solution. For most of dogs/cats: catch, neuter and release
The Responsible Ownership «Package» Responsabilisation of breeders, sellers and buyers Mandatory Identification and Registration of all dogs/cats at the EU level, with harmonisation of means of identification A central system such as EuroPetNet Veterinary care (preventive and curative) This can be achieved through public/private partnerships
The EU Traceability Working Group Objective: Has proven that I&R of all dogs/cats in Europe : - Is feasible - Can be costless - Is part of the sustainable solution to manage efficiently dog/cat population and to ensure that each dog/cat has a responsible owner (public or private) Members are: FOUR PAWS The Istituto G Caporale FVE The European Commission The Belgian Animal Welfare Ministry EuroPetNet Planet ID TASSO Results: A complete EU concept of I&R was elaborated in 2015
The No-Kill Approach: Catch, Neuter & Release It is the only sustainable long-term solution to the overpopulation issue Method promoted by the OIE in its Guidelines on stray dog population control + World Health Organisation 9 European Member States (+ Catalonia) have already strictly prohibited the killing of healthy cats and dogs. "There is no evidence that removal of dogs has ever had a significant impact on dog population densities or the spread of rabies. The population turnover of dogs may be so high that even the highest recorded removal rates are easily compensated for by increased survival rates WHO, Rabies Expert Committee, 1992
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria From 1878 to 2006: no sustainable approach to stray dog management / Mass killing (more than 300,000) up from 1999 / No reduction of pop. In 2007: Decision of Sofia s municipality to mass neutering and vaccination of stray animals starting with a census of population of strays done by the Bulgarian Academy of Science 2008: first Bulgarian Animal Protection Law implementing catch, neuter and release + encourage neutering of owned animals 5 census have been done in Sofia: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015 together with FOUR PAWS Bulgaria. Methodology developed by FOUR PAWS. It has a 10% error margin. Then, post-check and recount.
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria Highest stray animals population: in poor districts with low level of education / Mainly suburbs Campaigns for free neutering of owned dogs and cats for risk groups Promotion of adoption / opening of new shelters Stray cats have always to be considered when leading stray dogs project. Diminution of stray dogs population often results in an increasement of stray cats populations as both species use the same ressources.
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria (whole country) 98,350 69,560 43,700 Source: Damyan Draganov Iliev, Deputy Director General, National Veterinary Service of Bulgaria
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria (Sofia) Source: FOUR PAWS census
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria (Sofia) Source: FOUR PAWS census
The effectiveness of the Method The example of Bulgaria (Sofia) Source: FOUR PAWS census
Thank you for your attention www.carodog.eu / www.carocat.eu