Contribution to the elaboration of draft guidelines on dog population control An Internship in the International Trade Department Marie-Aude Montély

Introduction : the context OIE mandate : Animal Health Animal Welfare Guidelines on dog population control : a priority issue raised in 2005 – Permanent Animal Welfare Working Group Creation of an Ad Hoc Group : 2 meetings in May and December 2006 Code Commission meeting March 2007: submission of the draft guidelines for comments by members (5 received in august) Permanent Working Group on Animal Welfare meeting 3-5 september OIE procedure

Introduction : why are stray dogs a problem? NUISANCES Zoonoses (rabies, echinococcosis, leishmaniosis…) Environmental pollution (noise, faeces) Nuisance behavior (barking, chasing vehicles) Traffic accidents Injury to animals / predation Invasion of environmental preserved areas Bite Transmission of diseases to other animals HUMAN Stray Dog Population ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS Diminution of number of dogs Diminution of nuisances OBJECTIVES of a Dog Population Programme

Introduction : the reality of the problem Source : OIE questionnaire Rabies in the world: 55 000 human death / year (WHO 2004) 61% Example of an E-mail received at the International Trade Department: Rabies Control Project Manager (South Africa) Increase report of killing goats, sheep and cattle More people attacked by packs of dogs Rabies Restriction of people movements 39% HIV-AIDS infected people, death rate + 87% over the last 5 years : uncared dogs Beginning of a sterilization/ immunization programme but few experience of dealing with dogs (only solution is often shooting)

Introduction : the objective of my internship Draft guidelines on dog population control Article 5 : control methods To complete article 5-k euthanasia Method used: Bibliography and contacts with experts

5- Control measures Owned Dog Stray Dog Removed dogs Dead dogs ABANDONMENT Reproductive control (c) Identification (b) Responsible ownership (a) UNCONTROLLED BREEDING REPRODUCTION Stray Dog Environnemental control (f) Adoption (e) Releasing (dogs neutered, vaccinated, identified) (e) NATURAL DEATH Removed dogs Removal (d) AW critical point Direct control measures Euthanasia (k) Dead dogs Indirect control measures Positive Negative

Guidelines on dog population 5- Control measures k-euthanasia Elaboration of OIE guidelines should be based on scientific knowledge But control of animal population is also: A public health issue A societal / cultural / political issue An economic issue Problems encountered: Few scientific publications Methods considered as “humane” or “acceptable” are not the same throughout the world Euthanasia : a very sensitive issue AVMA 2007 ANZCCART 2001 WSPA 2007 (not published) Close 97 (EFSA 2005) CO2 Acceptable Acceptable with reservations Not acceptable Electrocution Conditionally acceptable Acceptable (3/5)

Source : OIE questionnaire Total >100% - several answers possible

Table in the draft guidelines Procedure Capture Restraint= Handling Advantages/ Disadvantages Urban area Electrocution Yes No Affordable equipment: 220 V main current; gloves+boots. Instant death. CO Needs appropriate premises; puts personnel at risk. Slow death. CO2 As CO2 is heavier than air, the dogs can lift their heads over the CO2 layer and death is slow. Barbiturates Intravenous Intracardial Intraperitoneal Requires an appropriate dose and pre-anaesthetic. Administered under veterinary supervision and requires trained personnel. T61 Intrapulmonary Dangerous for personnel in the event of accidental injection. Rural Area Free bullet Fast death. Risk of accident (same as for hunting).

Summary analysis of euthanasia methods Specific method Animal welfare concerns/ implications Key animal welfare requirements applicable Operator security Advantages Disadventages Electrical Electrocution Gaseous CO (carbon monoxid) CO2 (carbon dioxid) Inert gas (N2, Ar) Anaesthetic gas overdose (halothane, enflurane…) Injection Barbiturates T61 Anaesthetic agents overdose (thiopentone, propofol…) KCl Mechanical Free bullet Penetrative captive bolt Exsanguination

Euthanasia and Animal Welfare EU good / THANATOS death Minimal pain and distress Rapid loss of conscious followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest and ultimate loss of brain function For pain to be experienced, the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures must be functional Hypoxia Depression by drugs Electric shock Concussion Pain is not experienced Choice of euthanasia method is less critical if the animal is anesthetized or unconscious

AVMA (2007) : criteria of choice of euthanasia method Ability to induce loss of consciousness and death without causing pain, distress, anxiety, apprehension Time required to induce loss of consciousness Reliability Safety for personnel Irreversibility Compatibility with requirement and purpose Emotional effect on observers or operators Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination, or use of tissue Drug availability and human abuse potential Compatibility with species, age and health status Ability to maintain equipment in proper working order Safety for predators/scavengers should the carcass be consumed Illustration with a few examples found in the table

« Animal welfare concern » Ability to induce loss of consciousness and death without causing pain, distress, anxiety, apprehension « Animal welfare concern » « Key animal welfare requirements applicable » Electrocution : Cardiac fibrillation can occur before unconsciousness -> should only be used on unconscious animal (stunning first, also possible via electrocution) CO2 : very aversive in a lot of animal species : distress, animal welfare aspects not very well know in dogs Barbiturates: IV : smooth induction of euthanasia – recommended method IP: slow and irritant

=> « Operator security » 4. Safety for personnel => « Operator security » CO : Inodor, high and chronic toxicity 2002 death of an operator of a homemade chamber in Tennessee Artisanal CO chamber in USA Source : NIOSH (2004) Health hazard evaluation report : city of Liberal (Kansas) Animal Shelter. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, department of health and human services, centers for disease control and prevention. 28 p. http://www2a.cdc.gov/hhe/select.asp?PjtName=35965&bFlag=1&ID=1

7. Emotional effect on observers or operators Free bullet Penetrative captive bolt Exsanguination 8. Compatibility with subsequent evaluation, examination, or use of tissue Free bullet and penetrative captive bolt / Rabies examination

9. Drug availability and human abuse potential T61 / Tanax ®: Embutramide + Mebezonium+ Tetracaïne General anaesthetic Curariform Local anaesthetic Unavailable in USA In : GIORGI M., BERTINI S. Tanax (T61) : an overview. Pharmacological Research, Vol. 41, No. 4, 2000

Problems discussed at the Working group concerning the table: Some countries may say that some methods in the table are not humane (ex of comments of the old table : CO2 welfare aspects not very well known in dogs, T61 not available in USA) Solution : Table is a list of “used methods” and not “acceptable methods” Countries can choose to be more restrictive Unacceptable methods on animal welfare point of view, with strong scientific evidence, will be listed Electrocution : cardiac fibrillation can occur before unconsciousness

Consequence : Some methods will be classed as “unacceptable” but are widely in use Strychnine (poisoned baits) are used in 20% of the countries which have a stray dog killing programme (OIE questionnaire) – scientific evidence : painful and non-selective killing method Electrocution : stunning first is recommended, but it seems to be often not the case in use Electrocution : cardiac fibrillation can occur before unconsciousness

Conclusion On the guidelines on dog population: - Animal Welfare Working Group has reviewed the propositions - Next step : Code Commission - Reactions of members countries? A very positive personal experience -Improved knowledge of the subject -Better understanding of the elaboration of OIE Standards -A good occasion to work in an international context -An excellent introduction to my future job

Thank you for your attention Any questions?