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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Introduction : the reality of the problem
Source : OIE questionnaire
Rabies in the world:
human death / year (WHO 2004)
61%
Example of an 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

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

9. 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).

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. « 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

14. => « 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Thank you for your attention
Any questions?