1

5 – 8 August 2014, Tokyo/Yokohama-Japan

STRAY DOG POPULATION CONTROLTERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH

CODE CHAPTER 7.7.

Tikiri Wijayathilaka, OIE RRAP, Tokyo, Japan

22

Presentation outline

o History of the chaptero Why did the OIE develop this chapter?o OIE questionnaire on dog population controlo Preambleo Guiding principleso Dog population control program objectiveso Case studieso Responsibilities and competencieso Development of a dog population control programo Control measureso Monitoring and evaluation of a dog population control program

33

History of the chapter

2006 – May – 5th meeting of WG on Animal Welfare –TOR Modified to concentrate on dog population control

2007 – March – Draft Guidelines – TAHSC 2009 – March – Annex XV – TAHSC Draft Chapter 2009 – May – Resolution No 30 – approved at OIE 77th

General Session

44

Links to capture the history……

• http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/About_us/docs/pdf/A_RESO_2009_PUB.pdf - RESOLUTION No. 30 - 77 GS/FR – PARIS, May 2009

• http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TAHSC_March2009_PartA.pdf - Annex XV - OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission / March 2009

• http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TAHSC_MARCH2007_PARTC.pdf - Appendix VII -DRAFT GUIDELINES DOG POPULATION CONTROL - OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards commission/March 2007

• http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TAHSC_OCTOBER2006.pdf - REPORT OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE OIE WORKING GROUP ON ANIMAL WELFARE Paris, 4 - 6 July 2006 – Item No 12 - Stray animal control – TOR modified to concentrate on dog population control programs

55

Why did the OIE develop this chapter?

More than 55 000 people die each year from rabies, majority are children and in many cases the source of infection is a stray dog

99% human rabies deaths are due to dog bites Many millions of animals contract and die of rabies each year Stray dogs pose serious human health, socio-economic,

political and animal welfare problems in many countries of the world, and especially in developing countries and in least developed countries.

(Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev)

66

OIE questionnaire on dog population control

To study and evaluate the problem and collect relevant data, a questionnaire on dog population control was distributed to all OIE countries, the survey comprised 17 questions and they were divided into two sections: General information on the dog population

(presence, distribution and problems) Stray dog control

(presence of official control programmes, different methods employed)

http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TAHSC_MARCH2007_PARTC.pdf

(Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev)

77

Are free roaming dogs a problem?EUROPE (30 countries)

Yes47%

In some areas13%

No40%

Are free roaming dogs a problem?

HDI - Human Development Index

Are free roaming dogs a problem?

(Slide - OIE stray dog control standards and perspective, Dr. Stanislav Ralchev)

88

Preamble

Scope of these recommendations is to deal with stray and feral dogs, which pose serious human health, animal health and welfare problems and have a socio-economic, environmental, political and religious impact in many countries

Human health, including the prevention of zoonotic diseases, notably rabies, is a priority

Dog population management is an integral part of rabies control programs

99

Preamble cont.

OIE recognizes the importance of controlling dog populations without causing unnecessary animal suffering

Veterinary Services should play a lead role in preventing zoonotic diseases and ensuring animal welfare and should be involved in dog population control, coordinating their activities with other competent public institutions and/or agencies

10

Guiding principles

1111

Guiding principles - Article 7.7.1.

Recommendations are based on those laid down in Chapter 7.1. (Animal Welfare)

Some additional principles are relevant to these recommendations;• Promotion of responsible dog ownership can

significantly reduce the numbers of stray dogs and the incidence of zoonotic diseases

• Because dog ecology is linked with human activities, control of dog populations has to be accompanied by changes in human behavior to be effective

12

Objectives ofDog population control

program

1313

Objectives of Dog population control program - Article 7.7.3.

Improve health and welfare of owned and stray dog population

Reduce numbers of stray dogs to an acceptable level

Promote responsible ownership

Assist in the creation and maintenance of a rabies immune or rabies free dog population

1414

Objectives of Dog population control program cont.

Reduce the risk of zoonotic diseasesother than rabies

Manage other risks to human health (e.g. parasites)

Prevent harm to the environment and other animals Prevent

illegal trade and trafficking

15

Case Studies

1616

ABC Program – Jodhpur - India

The Marwar Trust runs Animal Birth Control (ABC) program since 2004.

2004 -2014 76,406 dogs (36,401 females and 40,005 males) have been sterilized and vaccinated for rabies.

30 000 roaming dogs in Jodhpur (Hiby, 2012) Yearly mark-re-sight surveys have shown that

the herd immunity achieved is consistently between 85 and 90%

Jodhpur – population of 800 000 inhabitants Dr. Rastislav Kolesar, Dr. Gardner Murray WORKSHOP ON RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DOG RABIES CHIANG MAI, THAILAND 11-13 JUNE 2014

17

Disease control through fertility control: Secondary benefits of animal birth control in Indian street dogs: Andrew J. Yoaka∗, John F. Reece, Stanley D. Gehrtc, Ian

M. Hamilton - Preventive Veterinary Medicine

(1) survey sexually intact street dogs for a wide range of diseases in three cities in Rajasthan, India and

(2) evaluate links between the health of non-treated dogs and both the presence and duration of animal birth control (ABC) programs.

Viral and bacterial disease sero-prevalences were assessed in 240 sexually intact street dogs from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Sawai Madhopur cities in October and September 2011.

Dogs in cities with an ABC program had with significantly (p < 0.05) higher overall body condition scores, lower prevalence of open wounds likely caused by fighting, flea infestations, infectious canine hepatitis, Ehrlichia canis, Leptospira interrogans serovars, and canine distemper virus antibodies.

[However, found high number of brown dog ticks and no difference in Canine Parvo Virus and Brucella canis]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587713002833

18

Control of rabies in Jaipur, India, by the sterilization and vaccination of neighbourhood dogs: J. F. Reece, S. K. Chawla

A program to sterilize and vaccinate neighborhood dogs against rabies was established in Jaipur, India. Neighborhood dogs were captured humanely, sterilized surgically, vaccinated against rabies and, when they had recovered, released where they had been caught.

Between November 1994 and December 2002, 24,986 dogs were treated in this way.

Direct observational surveys of the local dog population indicated that•Sixty five per cent (65%) of the females were sterilized and vaccinated and that the population declined by 28 per cent.

•The records of human cases of rabies seen in the main government hospital of the city between January 1992 and December 2002 showed that the number of cases had declined to zero in the program area but increased in other areas.

Veterinary Record (2006) 159, 379-383

19

Responsibilities and competencies

2020

Key stakeholders and their main responsibilities

Responsible to implement animal health and welfare legislations

May play a leading role in zoonoses control, stray dog control

Control problems associated with stray dogs

Provide advice to dog owners, handlers–may be the 1st to see case

Important partner to VS, public awareness, provide local knowledge

Responsible to develop & implement laws for dog ownership

Immediate acceptance of responsibility of dog, offspring

Vet Authority

Public Health

Environment Ag

Private Vets

NGO

Local Govt.

Dog Owner

For full details, please visit the page http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=0&htmfile=chapitre_aw_stray_dog.htm

21

Development of a dog population control

program

2222

Development of a dog population control program – Article 7.7.5. Recommends that the authorities establish an

advisory group Should include: Veterinarians Experts in - dog ecology, dog behavior and zoonotic

diseases Representatives of relevant stakeholders (local

authorities, human health authorities, environmental control authorities, NGOs and the public)

2323

Main purpose of the advisory group

Analyze and quantify the

problem

Identify the

cause

Obtain public opinion on dog

Propose the most effective approaches to

use in the short and long

term

2424

Important considerations

Identifying the sources of stray dogs Estimating the existing number,

distribution and ecology Regulatory framework Resources available to authorities

25

Control measures

2626

Possible control measures –Article 7.7.6.

2727

Education on responsible dog ownership should address…

2828

Euthanasia

When euthanasia is practiced, general principles in the Terrestrial Code should

be followed It should have emphasis on using the most

practical, rapid and humane methods Should ensure operator safety

Regardless of the method used, it is important to minimize distress, anxiety and pain

29

Monitoring and evaluation of dog population control

programs

3030

Monitoring and evaluation of dog population control programs - Article 7.7.7.

Allows for comparison of important indicators against the baselines measured during initial assessment (see Article 7.7.5)

Three main reasons for carrying out monitoring and evaluation are: to help improve performance, by highlighting both

problems and successful elements of interventions for accountability, to demonstrate that the program is

achieving its aims assuming methods are standardized, to compare the

success of strategies used in different locations and situations

3131

Elements that should generally be monitored and evaluated

Dog population size, separated into sub-populations according to ownership and restriction of movement

Dog welfare, in the target population and as a result of the program

Prevalence of zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, in both the animal and human population

Responsible animal ownership, including measures of attitudes and understanding of responsible ownership and evidence that this is translating into responsible behavior

3232

Sources of information for monitoring and evaluation Feedback from the local community (e.g.

through the use of structured questionnaires, focus groups or ‘open format’ consultation processes)

Records and opinions obtained from relevant professionals (e.g. veterinarians, medical doctors, law enforcement agencies, educators)

Animal based measurements (e.g. direct observation surveys of population size and welfare status)

3333

Important

Output of activities against budgetshould be carefully recorded in order to evaluate the effort (or cost)against the outcomes and impact (or benefit) that are reflected in the results of monitoring and evaluation

3434

…….that are reflected in the results of monitoring and evaluation…….

35

Thank you for your attention!