An overview: stray dog problem in different countries within the EU
EU countries where stray dog situation is beginning to improve:France, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary
EU countries where stray dog situation is a big problem:
Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Spain
source: RSPCA in 2011. Note: no information about Cyprus, Estonia, Malta
Management of stray dog problems in different countries
(the management can shift from one municipality to another within the same country)- 1. Education, registration, laws and regulations
- 2. Spay / neutering programs as the CNR method
- 3. The collection and storage of stray dogs in shelters
- 4. Mass exterminations
2. Spay / neutering programs, where the dog is captured, neutered, rabies vaccinated, and then released at the place where the dog was captured (CNR), has the advantage that it is a humane and effective method to bring down a stray dog population, and of course that the method is "non-lethal ". In one area, however, about 70 percent of the dogs have to be castrated for it to be effective. The downside is that it takes a few years before the method gives results and during this time dogs risk to come to harm and that the spread of diseases can occur in both humans and animals.
3. Catching and putting dogs on a large scale in shelters has the advantage that the population of stray dogs will temporarily be reduced. The drawback is that relatively few dogs are adopted, resulting in a prolonged storage for tens of thousands of dogs in an environment which is not designed to serve their need for stimulation. Neglect, lack of food and water, and lack of veterinary care, are not unusual in municipal enclosures. This depends on factors such as untrained staff, corruption, lack of controls and a general disinterest from the judiciary and the authorities to tackle the problems. Euthanasia is often done with non-human methods.
4. Mass exterminations involves severe suffering to animals, as the whole operation process of transportation, storage and the killing takes place in a very painful way. Even children and animal friends get severely traumatized when they witness these scenes in the streets taking place right in front of them. Dogs which are not taken to any so-called death pounds, can be slained in the streets in daylight, or poisoned by night. In the morning "cleaning squads" collect the dead dogs and throw them in garbage containers. The method is completely ineffective in the long term. It takes less than 10 years before the number of dogs in the area are about as big as before a mass extermination began. A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that "the killing of dogs in the area have never had any significant effect on the number of dogs that inhabit the area."
The right focus to achieve results and humane management
Education and information to the local population about responsible dog ownership is the A and O. The presence of stray dogs is caused by humans and can be seen as a symptom of irresponsible dog ownership. Moreover, all countries should establish rules that owned dogs must be marked with a chip and recorded. Legislation should in many countries be reviewed, especially concerning the abandonment of animals, and prosecution of crimes should be vigorously implemented. Controls and supervision of activities involving animals must be tightened.Authorities should implement, and facilitate the process of effective methods like CNR (Catch-Neuter-Release), through the construction of small castration clinics and the training of veterinarians in castration techniques. Evaluation and systematic monitoring of actions, international cooperation, and political pressure both locally and internationally is also of equally important significance. NGOs (non-governmental organizations) should in a much higher degree concentrate on neutering campaigns, primarily to offer locals free neutering of owned dogs. The target should initially be to reduce the number of stray dogs to an acceptable level.
Canine general welfare, both owned and strays, must be improved. Diseases and parasites spreading of infection must be prevented. The standard of dog shelters must be improved both in terms of the treatment of sick animals, and prevention of diseases spreading infection. Staff should be trained in basic animal care. Premises should be designed and fit for their purpose. Finally, measures should be taken to prevent illegal trade in dogs.
For further reading, see the sub-menus for each country.
