1. Stray Control Methods in Estonia Special Seminar on Dogs & Cats
Tallinn, Estonia,
May 17 – 18th 2007
Louisa Tasker
Companion Animals Unit
World Society for the Protection of Animals
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7TP
Thank you for inviting me to talk to you today at your seminar to discuss the control of stray dogs and cats Europe wide.

2. World Society for the Protection of Animals
(WSPA)
Non Government Organisation
Headquarters in London
Offices around the world (13)
Consultancy status with
Council of Europe and
United Nations
Work in conjunction with
WHO – humane stray control
Before I start I should tell you that I am part of a much larger global animal welfare organisation
Our headquarters are based in London, UK but we have 13 offices worldwide: UK, Tanzania, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, USA.
We have consultancy status with the European commission and World Health Organisation.

3. Animal Champions
I wanted to finish by just telling you about our member society network – because I believe that this is what sets WSPA apart from other organisations – We believe that in order to bring about real and consistent change in animal welfare globally you have to build capacity and basically animal welfare champions in country. We now have 700 member societies in 143 countries across the world

4. WSPA’s vision and mission
Our Vision
A world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends
Our Mission
To build a united global animal welfare movement

5. Our work… Companion Animals Farm Animal Welfare Libearty Wildlife
WhaleWatch
Member Societies
Education
Universal Declaration
Disaster Management
We work on several different animal issues - farm animals, etc.
We also have departments that deal with the more generic methods of improving animal welfare:
Member societies – will talk a lot about – what they are.
Education specialists.
Excitement about Universal Declaration
Disaster management – prepare and relief.

6. Working Around The World
© WSPA
© WSPA
Working Around The World
All the dots represent a comp animal project or campaign – so as you can see we do a lot of work on companion animals, all over the globe and developing world focused.
Overwhelming work with stray animals – as this is a truly global issue
STRAY CONTROL
WORKING EQUINES
RPO
COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

7. Stray control Stray dogs and cats may experience poor welfare:
Lack of veterinary care
Malnutrition
Disease
Injury
Inhumane control
Stray dogs - are a global problem. Where ever you have people you have dogs.
Several thousands of years of evolution, mostly controlled by use through selective breeding, has produced an animal that finds living with and among man a very viable option.
There are an estimated 600 million dogs in the world of which 80% are thought to be stray – seems very high, but this does include owned dogs that are left to roam freely on public property.
What differs between countries is the extent of the problems they cause, the methods by which their populations are controlled and the main welfare problems they suffer.

8. Stray control Problems associated with stray animals Zoonotic disease
Direct physical injury (bites and scratches)
Environmental contamination
Damage to property
Nuisance factors
Problems associated with stray dogs:
Environmental pollution
Zoonotic disease
Bites and conflict with humans
Nuisance factors; noise, road traffic accidents, damage to property
Predate livestock
Stray management – is important for public health and safety
For animal welfarists – achieved in a humane manners and leads to the improvement in the welfare if the dog population

9. Stray control Effective, humane stray control
Important for public health and safety
Animal welfare
Stray management – is important for public health and safety
For animal welfarists – achieved in a humane manners and leads to the improvement in the welfare if the dog population

10. A survey of stray dog & cat control practices across Europe
Jointly funded and commissioned by:
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
&
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (RSPCA)

11. Survey of stray dog and cat control - Europe
Aim
Document methods used to control stray dogs and cats in Europe
Objectives
Update RSPCA International Survey – 1999
Identify countries that have been successful at stray control
Identify what approaches have been successful

12. Questionnaire
We used a questionnaire to gain information from animal welfare groups working in Europe
The diagram shows the types of information that we requested from groups – all of which we felt were important factors that contributed to the control of stray dogs and cats.

13. Questionnaire distribution & responses
WSPA Member Societies
RSPCA International Associate Organizations
Responses received from 32 groups
Provided information from 30 European countries on stray dog and cat control
Questionnaire was distributed by to 72 animal welfare groups working in 40 European Countries
Each group was asked questions relating to stray dog and cat control in their country
We received replies from 32 groups working in 30 European countries

14. Survey results
Considerable variation amongst European countries in effectiveness of stray control practices

15. Legislation
Legislation relating to companion animals – stray control factors
% Countries
Animal welfare legislation:
26 (87%) of the countries surveyed - animal welfare, protection of animals, prohibiting animal cruelty
3 countries (Belarus, Bulgaria, and Spain) - at the municipal level only
1 country (Bosnia-Herzegovina) only addressed in veterinary legislation
3 countries Albania, Armenia and Azerbaijan Republic had no specific legislation designed to safeguard animal welfare animal welfare.
Pet Ownership:
10 (34%) countries - legislation that specifically addressed pet ownership i.e. who could own a pet
current regulations stipulated the age at which a person or persons could be considered responsible for an animal. Switzerland - exception from early 2007 all dog owners will be required to undertake practical and theoretical courses in responsible dog ownership including dog training and behaviour.
Pet care:
60% (N=18), legislation relating to pets, outlined requirements for their care and husbandry:
8 countries -vague and poorly, if ever enforced in, 8 countries
countries, specific details of owner responsibilities and animal needs were outlined.
4 countries are improving/updating their legislation, being more explicit in outlining the husbandry needs of pets, these include the UK (Animal Welfare Act 2006, comes into effect in 2007), Switzerland (Animal Protection Ordinance to be updated in 2007/2008), Serbia (Animal Welfare Law being read in the National Assembly) and Estonia (Animal Protection Act, supplemental decrees being reviewed in parliament)
Breeding and selling:
50% countries- restrictions in the breeding and selling of dogs and cats in their national legislation
- exclusively related to commercial practices, unless certain breeds of dogs were considered to be dangerous.
14 (48%) countries – sale of pets prohibited in certain locations such as at markets and in the street.
Some through pet shops, for instance; Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, UK and Switzerland.
Abandonment:
70% (N=21) countries - abandoning pets was illegal.
9 member societies reported that this was hardly ever enforced in their countries, they included; Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Moldova, Portugal and the Ukraine.
stray animals and collection;
24, (80%) countries – stray animal regulations – not all included stray collection
Dangerous dogs:
22 countries that have legislation relating to dangerous or aggressive dogs
11 have prohibited breeds list, including; Belgium, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland
Legislation

16. Dogs licensing & registration
4 (14%) countries no schemes in place
7 (24%) had voluntary schemes in place
19 (63%) countries it is compulsory for dogs to either be licensed or registered
Ineffective in helping to reduce stray numbers when not enforced in 12 countries
It is important to note that, in countries where registration and licensing was rigorously enforced, this was considered an essential element in their successful stray dog control practices. Therefore compulsory registration without a commitment to effective enforcement is unlikely to result in owners complying with the regulations.
Microchip – move to this as a permanent means of id – often combined with a more visible form of identification such as collar and tag
3 countries legal requirement; Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, (Norway, Finland)
Implanted Microchip (73%)
Tattoo (50%)
Both methods used with a collar and tag

17. Dog population trends Trends in owned dog population over 5 years
No country centrally monitored its national owned dog population or demographics by regular census
Estimates provided by Kennel clubs (pedigree dogs only) and pet food manufacturers
Estimate of trends in dog numbers over the last five years:
53% Reported an increase in owned dog numbers
7% (2 countries) reported a decrease
27% (8 countries) reported constant numbers – those with high stray numbers and those with no strays
13% could not provide estimates

18. Stray dog population trends
Trends in stray dog population over 5 years
Only 4 countries could report estimates for stray dog numbers in their country; UK, Poland, Portugal, Ukraine
30% (9) reported that they had no stray dogs Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden
40% remained constant
7% Decreasing Ireland, United Kingdom
23% increasing (Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Moldova, Poland and Serbia),
N=17: 57%- reported no change
It should be noted that no change in stray numbers was reported by those countries unsuccessful (Azerbaijan Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine) at controlling stray dogs
SOURCE OF STRAY DOGS
90% of respondents reported that the source of stray dogs were from the owned population:
Owned allowed to roam
Lost
No longer wanted and dumped
Truly feral – never owned dogs were only cited in 2 countries to be the source of the problem.

19. Methods of stray dog control
Culled – 21 % of countries – All reported that stray numbers continued to increase
Catch Neuter Release – 3% of countries - Increased “dumping”
Catch Neuter Release in combination with other methods – 17% of countries - Problems reported
Catch Hold, Rehome or Euthanatise – 70 % of countries
Dogs were culled in 21% countries
These countries typically had increasing stray numbers, no effective animal protection or dog control legislation and they often had no holding facilities; pounds or shelters
CNR was exclusively undertaken in 1 country Greece, problematic as dogs could not be re-released in some areas because of residents objections, could not always identify adequate guardians, in some areas where it was perceived to be successful it “ encouraged” dumping of dogs in areas where “owners knew they were going to be looked after”
CNR in combination with catch and rehome: problems associated with CnR
Majority of countries caught stray dogs and held for statutory holding period – varied from 3 – 60 days
All of the countries that were successful operated this approach.

20. Cat population trends Trends in owned cat population in 5 years
No country centrally monitored cat populations or demographcs
Groups found it difficult to provide estimates of the numbers of cats – only 50% were able to
Difficult to report trends in cat numbers:
60 % of countries reported an increase
23% remained the same/constant
No one reported a decrease in numbers
17% could not even provide information on trends

21. Stray cat population trends
Unable to provide estimates
None reported a decrease
Source of stray cats – Difficult for groups to identify
No countries reported that they were successful in tackling stray cat numbers
Most countries could not even begin to estimate the number of stray cats in their countries, let alone what the trends might be.
Stray cat numbers were never monitored.

22. Methods of stray cat control
Culled – 21 % of countries
Catch Neuter Release – 7% of countries - Problems
Catch Neuter Release in combination with other methods – 33% of countries - Problems reported
Catch Hold, Rehome or Euthanatise – 20 % of countries
Cats were culled in 23% countries
CNR was exclusively undertaken in 2 countries Belgium and Greece, problematic: could not be re-released in some areas because of residents objections, could not always identify adequate guardians
33% (10) Majority CNR in combination with catch and rehome:
20% (6) did not practise CnR

23. Subsidized neutering 60 % of countries - reduced cost or free
Schemes operated by:
Animal welfare organizations
Municipalities
Often not available
nationwide
Schemes often restricted to people on low incomes, with large numbers of pets, in specific locations or at certain times of the year

24. Responsible pet ownership education
63% - education programmes targeted at owners
- Animal welfare organisations
Only 6 groups monitored the effects that an educational campaign had on owners:
- Reported a change in owner attitude
- A reduction in stray numbers in those locations

25. Countries successful at control
Enacted and enforced legislation:
Animal welfare, animal cruelty, abandonment and neglect
Pet trade – markets, puppy farms or mills, pet shops and commercial breeders – often supplemented by codes of practice
Both the breeding and selling of animals is regulated
Compulsory registration often supplemented with a licensing or taxation system – can be used as an incentive for neutering or keeping low numbers of dogs
Specified and compulsory permanent identification
Dog control, leash laws, dog prohibited public areas
Designated procedure for collection and management of strays
Includes regulation and inspection of animal shelters

26. Cooperation Government and municipalities take the lead:
Good cooperation between
Police
Environmental departments (dog wardens or environmental health officers)
Animal welfare inspectors
Non Government Organizations (Animal welfare groups)
Veterinary authorities and department of animal health
General public

27. Holding facilities Strays are collected
Most owners are easily identified
80 – 100% dogs are re-united
Owners may be required to pay a penalty or fine if their dog is collected
Short-term and long-term holding facilities or fostering networks for rehoming – regulated and inspected to ensure high animal welfare standards
Rehomed dogs are neutered, identified and vaccinated
Network of shelters, animal welfare organisations and foster homes that can take in animals no longer wanted by their owners – therefore don’t just release them on the streets

28. Owner education
Good, well established, responsible pet ownership programmes – same educational message is given through veterinary practices, animal welfare organizations, kennel clubs, animal welfare inspectors and municipal workers (dog wardens or environmental health officers)
Nationwide

29. Neutering
Not all countries that were successful at stray control advocated neutering of pets or offered subsidized neutering schemes.
Pet reproduction was diligently controlled through responsible pet ownership and good dog control.
Control unwanted reproduction of pets through education, neutering, enforced laws to prevent free-roaming or loose dogs, requiring breeders to be licensed and to control the sale and supply of pets by commercials practices.

30. Conclusions for successful stray control
Coordinated, multifaceted and holistic approach to control
Underpinned by effective and enforced legislation
Involvement and cooperation with stakeholders
Successful European countries demonstrated a commitment to a holistic coordinated progressive approach to stray dog control:
Includes controlling the source of the problem – the owned dog population through legislation and owner education – requires a change in human behaviour

31. Acknowledgments Meeli Laane Senior specialist
Tallinna Environment Department

32. Acknowledgements 32 groups that participated in the survey
WSPA & RSPCA International for
commissioning, funding and supporting the
project