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This website provides helpful information for community members, municipal leaders, and government officials, in countries, especially Nepal, where large populations of free-roaming dogs (owned dogs, community dogs, stray dogs, and feral dogs) exist. There is information about dog population management, responsible dog ownership, the importance of microchipping and dog registration, dog sterilization (spay & neuter surgery), the importance of dog vaccinations for the prevention of rabies and other diseases, and information on public health and safety issues related to street dogs. Finally, information about the importance of public education including how to interact safely, compassionately, and respectfully with dogs in the community is also shared on this website.
Free-Roaming Dogs: Problems and Solutions
Paws of despair: The tragic reality of puppy mills
ADDRESSING THE STREET DOG DILEMMA: PENAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (GRN PANEL EVENT)
Paws of despair: The tragic reality of puppy mills
Are you unknowingly supporting puppy mills?
Numerous puppies bred in puppy mills are not directly sold from the mills themselves. Instead, they are often sold to various outlets such as pet stores, websites, and through classified ads.
Reputable dog breeders usually produce four to six litters per dog, after which they have them spayed when
Are you unknowingly supporting puppy mills?
Numerous puppies bred in puppy mills are not directly sold from the mills themselves. Instead, they are often sold to various outlets such as pet stores, websites, and through classified ads.
Reputable dog breeders usually produce four to six litters per dog, after which they have them spayed when they are between the ages of five to seven. It is essential not to breed dogs until they have had at least one heat cycle between litters, allowing them to recover. On average, a dog will go into heat every six months.
Each dog in a breeding operation spends their entire life being bred continuously at every opportunity with no break in between. Then they are replaced when they are no longer capable to produce puppies. Those old dogs do not maximise profits at this point and they are often abandoned or put down.
ACCESS TO VET CARE- Article BY Dr. ILONA OTTER
ADDRESSING THE STREET DOG DILEMMA: PENAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (GRN PANEL EVENT)
Paws of despair: The tragic reality of puppy mills
Dr Ilona Otter, Director of International Veterinary Training for the World Veterinary Service, India, explores the challenges of humane dog population management in India and the opportunities presented through owned dog spay/neuter campaigns.
ADDRESSING THE STREET DOG DILEMMA: PENAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (GRN PANEL EVENT)
ADDRESSING THE STREET DOG DILEMMA: PENAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (GRN PANEL EVENT)
ADDRESSING THE STREET DOG DILEMMA: PENAL PERSPECTIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (GRN PANEL EVENT)
Street dogs, community dogs, stray dogs: whatever name you give them, they are the dogs who live on the street. They could be abandoned pedigreed dogs or indigenous dogs who have always lived outside. Some people think they are a nuisance, but many others care for them, feed them, shelter them, and show them love, care, and compassion. Un
Street dogs, community dogs, stray dogs: whatever name you give them, they are the dogs who live on the street. They could be abandoned pedigreed dogs or indigenous dogs who have always lived outside. Some people think they are a nuisance, but many others care for them, feed them, shelter them, and show them love, care, and compassion. Unintentionally two groups of society have been formed: those who like street dogs and those who despise them.
Street Dogs in Nepal: Where Do They All Come From?
"The dog breeding industry in Nepal continues to grow unregulated and thrives on the exploitation of dogs, according to a study carried out by Animal Nepal."
"In the absence of laws to regulate the standards of pet breeding, and trading, breeders and sellers (84.8 percent) have been using social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to advertise their business and reach out to potential clients."
"the dog breeding & selling industry in Nepal has seen an exponential rise and continues to grow. Despite its prevalence, this industry remains unmonitored and unregulated and it is directly responsible for exacerbating the welfare crisis of dogs in Nepal."
"Most breeders keep the dogs confined in small cages where the breeding dogs spend all their lives and are denied proper veterinary care and socialization. ..The dogs develop health issues resulting in costly veterinary treatment, which can in many cases lead to the abandonment or neglect of the dogs."
Responsible Companion Animal Breeding (RSPCA-Australia)
What makes a responsible companion animal breeder?
"Provides a high standard of care and living conditions for their animals that meet their physiological, behavioural and social needs"
Key Principles for Responsible Companion Animal Breeding
" Demonstrates knowledge and genuine concern for the health and welfare of the animals in their care"
What Are Free-Roaming Dogs?
Best Practices for Dog Population Management (DPM)
Methods of Humane Animal Control
Free-roaming dogs are those dogs in the community (both owned & unowned) that are allowed to wander (roam) free, without being under the direct supervision of an owner or caretaker. Large numbers of free-roaming dogs can pose problems for public health and safety, concerns about animal welfare, and can impact tourism. Local governments,
Free-roaming dogs are those dogs in the community (both owned & unowned) that are allowed to wander (roam) free, without being under the direct supervision of an owner or caretaker. Large numbers of free-roaming dogs can pose problems for public health and safety, concerns about animal welfare, and can impact tourism. Local governments, NGO's and the community can work together to make life better for these dogs, which helps improve their welfare and can help improve public health and safety.
Methods of Humane Animal Control
Best Practices for Dog Population Management (DPM)
Methods of Humane Animal Control
Responsible city and municipal governments throughout the world provide a number of services to help their citizens protect the health and safety of the domestic dogs in the community, both owned pets, community dogs and strays. Learn how to run an effective and humane animal control program.
Best Practices for Dog Population Management (DPM)
Best Practices for Dog Population Management (DPM)
Best Practices for Dog Population Management (DPM)
Dog population management is an approach to dealing with large numbers of free-roaming dogs that includes animal birth control, vaccinating dogs against rabies and improving the welfare of dogs in the community. --WOAH, 2022
What Experts Say about Free-Roaming Dogs and Related Matters
"Dog population management helps promote responsible dog ownership by strengthening owner motivation, knowledge and therefore behavior in caring for their dogs, including timely rabies vaccination of owned dogs to maintain immunity.....".
World Organisation for Animal Health (2022)
International Companion Animal Management COALITION (ICAM)
"Feeding of roaming dogs and cats is an expression of compassion for animals and is a strongly defended action by many people. Feeding should not be discouraged.....Feed in areas that are safe for the animal and minimise conflict with community members....or where feeding is prohibited."
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
"Legislation that addresses DPM is a key element for....DMP programmes and ensures that DPM is carried out with respect to animal welfare guiding principles. The regulatory framework must be designed with both incentive measures for compliance and penalties for non-compliance......Competent authorities should require mandatory registration of all breeders and sellers.....Sales of dogs should be limited to adult buyers, and unregulated sales should be banned."
Intergroup ON THE WELFARE & CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS
"Years of ineffective or inhumane 'stray control' can leave the public outraged and governments frustrated by the lack of progress....82% of countries in the European Union (EU) have made dog identification and registration mandatory."
UNITED AGAINST RABIES
"Mass dog vaccination is a proven, cost-effective way to save human lives by stopping transmission of rabies at its source......dogs are responsible for 99% of human cases."
PRAMDAH SHAH (ANIMAL NEPAL)
"In recent years, the dog breeding & selling industry in Nepal has seen an exponential rise and continues to grow. Despite its prevalence, this industry remains unmonitored and unregulated and it is directly responsible for exacerbating the welfare crisis of dogs in Nepal...Most breeders keep the dogs confined in small cages where the breeding dogs spend all their lives and are denied proper veterinary care and socialization."
Kh. Shafiur Rahaman, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
"...Rabies is one of the killers of people in Bangladesh...and is mostly due to dog bites in children. Rabies death is completely preventable by vaccinating dogs at the national level...programs to manage the dog population, dog bite management and awareness raising are important. Inhumane killing of dogs to reduce the number can never be a permanent solution. Responsible ownership, licensing of dogs, reproductive control, educational programs on dog behavior, child-dog interaction and first aid management of dog bites can help to minimize serious consequences....".
Wright et al. (2021) The Role of Waste Management in Control of Rabies: A Neglected Issue
"In Kathmandu, Nepal.....the presence of street litter containing large amounts of organic matter (i.e. kitchen waste) attracts dogs and increases the dog population in that area. Reduction of food waste through actions such as composting or restricting access of dogs to human food waste may aid to decrease the number of street dogs from the locality.....waste management with regard to dogs that are truly dependent on these wastes for survival must be approached carefully. Simply restricting access to the waste immediately, thereby reducing the food sources, without providing alternative food sources....can fuel human animal conflict...".
Keshav Parajuly, United Nations University, Bonn Germany
"Overflowing landfills, streets full of garbage, foul smells, and bad sights are regular phenomena for Kathmandu....Besides health and environmental impacts of pollution, the reputation of 'polluted city' can harm the tourism-based economy of Nepal".
Webster(2013)Economic Impact of Stray Cats and Dogs at Tourist Destinations on the TouriSM IndUSTRY
"...with the increasing competition among travel providers for tourist dollars and for many countries that are dependent on tourism as a major component of their gross domestic product (GDP), the humane treatment of stray cats and dogs at tourist destinations should be considered part of the economic equation for the tourism".