Transcript Recommendation for an Asian Office

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
[email protected]
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
Animal Champions
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
Our work…
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Companion Animals
Farm Animal Welfare
Libearty
Wildlife
WhaleWatch
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Member Societies
Education
Universal Declaration
Disaster Management
Working Around The World
STRAY CONTROL
WORKING EQUINES
RPO
COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION
Stray control
Stray dogs and cats may experience poor
welfare:
• Lack of veterinary care
• Malnutrition
• Disease
• Injury
• Inhumane control
Stray control
Problems associated with stray animals
• Zoonotic disease
• Direct physical injury (bites and scratches)
• Environmental contamination
• Damage to property
• Nuisance factors
Stray control
• Effective, humane stray control
• Important for public health and safety
• Animal welfare
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)
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
Questionnaire
Legislation
Registration &
Licensing
Owner
education
Stray
collection
Stray Dog
& Cat
Control
Factors
Identification
of
owned animals
Owned
population
Animal shelters
Neutering
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
Survey results
• Considerable variation amongst European
countries in effectiveness of stray control
practices
Legislation
Legislation relating to companion animals – stray control factors
90
80
Animal Welfare
Pet Ownership
Pet Care
Breeding & Sale
Abandonment
Stray Collection
Aggressive Dogs
70
%
Countries
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Legislation
Dogs licensing & registration
Compulsory
Enforced
Voluntary
None
Implanted Microchip (73%)
Tattoo (50%)
Both methods used with a collar and tag
Dog population trends
Trends in owned dog population over 5 years
Increasing
Decreasing
Constant
Unknown
Stray dog population trends
Trends in stray dog population over 5 years
No strays
Increasing
Decreasing
Constant
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
Cat population trends
Trends in owned cat population in 5 years
Increasing
Decreasing
Constant
Unknown
Stray cat population trends
• Unable to provide estimates
• None reported a decrease
• Source of stray cats – Difficult for groups to
identify
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
Subsidized neutering
60 % of countries reduced cost or free
neutering
Schemes operated by:
Animal welfare organizations
Municipalities
Often not available
nationwide
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Conclusions for successful stray
control
• Coordinated, multifaceted and holistic
approach to control
• Underpinned by effective and enforced
legislation
• Involvement and cooperation with
stakeholders
Acknowledgments
Meeli Laane
Senior specialist
Tallinna Environment Department
Acknowledgements
32 groups that participated in the survey
WSPA & RSPCA International for
commissioning, funding and supporting the
project