Street Dog Population Control Case Study

For anybody interested in getting a better understanding of the street dog issue in developing countries I thoroughly recommend the following on-line document published by the British Veterinary Association Overseas Group:

‘Street Dog’ Population Control by Kathy Anzuino

It is an academic case study (focused on the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme in Jaipur, India) but easy to read. Here are some cherry-picked highlights from it:

“In Britain we tend to neatly categorize dogs as either 'pets' or 'stray' depending on their ownership status. This classification is oversimplified and inappropriate for many urban areas in 'developing' countries.”

“[pet ownership] is a relatively new but growing concept in Jaipur.”

“The most useful development of the [ABC] programme would probably come from greater community involvement...”

“…research suggests that domesticated dogs cause more and more serious bite injuries than feral dogs…”

“…there is a danger of following the western model of pet ownership, assuming this is the 'right way', that dogs should live only as pets and completely on human terms.”

“…elimination of street dogs ignores the role they may be playing as companions to the poorest members of the community who are unable to keep dogs as pets, providing them with protection, warmth and companionship.”

“The short to medium term aims of the [ABC] programme are to create a stable, friendlier, healthier street dog population. However, the city society is changing and there needs to be public debate about the longer term aims of the programme - whether the Western model of pet ownership should really be promoted or whether a different model, with dogs remaining a general society responsibility, is advocated.”

This is the first time I have seen Western involvement in a street dog ABC programme question their assumptions and ultimate aims. ABC programmes can and do improve street dog welfare but there are too many Western-run programmes based on the wrong assumption that all street dogs are stray.

And bear in mind that this case study is focused on the urban environment in developing countries and does not touch on the rural situation in those countries that can probably teach us a lot about why things can break down so badly in urban settings.

The one major omission from this study as far as I can see is the role of pet dog abandonment in the “overpopulation” of street dogs. My view is that the importance of solving this part of the problem is very under-rated.

Learn more about the lives and issue of unowned dogs in my e-book ”A Stray View” available from Bangkok Books (readable as .pdf on any computer)