ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTROL OF THE STRAY DOG POPULATION
Keywords:
animal shelters, stray animals, zoonoses, main challengesAbstract
The world's domestic dog population is estimated at approximately 700 million, with about 75% classified as "stray". Stray dogs are free to roam and breed, thus creating large, difficult-to-control populations. Free-roaming dogs pose a threat to local wildlife and public health, including the transmission of a number of zoonotic pathogens to domestic animals and humans, attacks on animals and humans, and traffic accidents. The purpose of this study is to assess the control of the population of stray dogs in Varna for a period of 5 years (2017-2021) by analyzing the activities of the Municipal Shelter for Stray Animals (MSSA). Approaches to managing dog populations include killing, fertility control and shelter keeping. The municipal shelter in the city of Varna is having a hard time dealing with the stray dog population due to poor funding and lack of staff. For the monitored period there is a lasting tendency to reduce the number of stray animals caught in the Municipal Shelter. There is a significant difference between captured and neutered dogs. A similar difference is found in vaccination and deworming of stray dogs. Adoption and euthanasia of stray animals as practices for controlling the population of this species are not popular in Bulgaria. Dog population management is a multifaceted concept that aims to improve the health and well-being of stray dogs, reduce the problems they can cause and reduce the size of the dog population. Held in many countries around the world. It is performed by different groups with different methods according to different types of populations using different various indicators for assessing the impact of interventions. Understanding the effectiveness of each of these interventions is important to guide the future management of the dog population. Very few of the studies reviewed allowed correct conclusions to be drawn. The main challenges for future research on the problem are to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and effects of mass campaigns to control the stray dog population.
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