Education and Animal Control Technical Institute (ITEC), Veterinary Medicine, Parana Federal Universiity (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
Introduction
The abandonment of dogs and cats is an important problem of public health and of environment, affects the health of individuals and communities and impacts on the animal welfare. Causal factors are multiple and related to religious, cultural, socioeconomic, demographic, ecological and biological factors. Also the degree of development of countries impacts the level of the problem and the control measures.1,2
Public policies for canine and feline population management were considered as a synonym for rabies control and included the capture and elimination of stray animals as a central strategy. From the 80s, the World Health Organization began to indicate strategies for the prevention of abandonment, such as reproductive control.3,4 In 2009, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) indicated education, legislation for responsible ownership, registration and identification of animals, reproductive control, stray animal capture, control of food sources and shelter, movement restriction, education to reduce attacks and bites and euthanasia for canine population management.5 In 2010 the United Nations (FAO) identified factors related to the persistence of animals on the street, the main one being the lack of public policies.6
Strategies for Dog and Cat Population Management
Population management program can be defined as a set of strategies developed to prevent animal abandonment and promote responsible ownership, structured from the perspective of community health promotion, human and animal welfare and environmental balance.1
The objectives involve avoid the presence of street animals, with or without guardians; increase the level of care to animals (responsible ownership); reduce abandonment, birth, morbidity, mortality rates and the animal population turnover; prevent diseases and zoonosis control; promote social participation and empowerment of individuals and communities; find an appropriate, humane and ethical destination for homeless animals, with focus on the welfare of animals, zoonosis control and people health.1
A comprehensive approach to canine and feline population management should include curative and preventive interventions that fill the local needs.1 These interventions must be constantly evaluated and remain sustainable for long periods, with expansion policies to other regions. The strategies should include both the setting of national public policy for canine and feline population management and implementation at the local level by municipalities. Should be included: diagnosis of the situation (census or population estimates); social participation with involvement of different sectors in planning and implementing strategies; educational activities to promote human values, animal welfare concepts, the health of communities and responsible acquisition (purchase or adoption); environmental management and waste to reduce the food source and shelter; registration and identification of animals; health care and animal welfare; prevention and control of zoonosis transmitted by dogs; animal trade control; ethological management, and disposal of abandoned animals; and relevant legislation to guard responsible, preventing the abandonment and the prevention of zoonosis.1
Health Promotion
The human and animal health and environmental balance are connected. The animals share with humans the same susceptibilities to certain diseases and environmental hazards. The approach in One Health is of vital importance due to the changes in the interactions between human, animal and environment. The pets are responsible for the transmission of more than 100 zoonoses.
The demographics of dogs and cats have accompanied the growth of human demographics. In Brazil, there are more households with dogs than children.7 Human-animal interaction requires care to promote the health of individuals, families and communities.
Social participation is an important factor for health promotion because, in addition to helping community awareness regarding responsible ownership, it creates a common sense to require effective and maintenance of local policies.
From the identification of social equipment present in the area (schools, churches, health clinics, etc.) and leaders, to develop activities to the empowerment of people. In this way, they can recognition the causes of the problem and make propositions for its solution.
References
1. Garcia RCM, Calderón N, Ferreira F. Consolidation of international guidelines for the management of canine populations in urban areas and proposal of performance indicators. Ver Panm Salud Publica. 2012;32(2):140–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1020-49892012000800008.
2. Garcia RCM. Estudo da dinâmica populacional canina e felina e avaliação de ações para o equilíbrio dessas populações em área da cidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil [tese de doutorado]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/10/10134/tde-18012010-154127/pt-br.php. 2009. Acesso 27/05/2016.
3. World Health Organization. Report of WHO Consultation on Dog Ecology Studies Related to Rabies Control. Genebra: WHO; 1988.
4. World Health Organization. World Society for the Protection of Animals. Guidelines for Dog Population Management. Genebra: WHO; 1990.
5. World Organization for Animal Health. Stray dog population control. Em: Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Paris: OIE; 2010. http://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D7599.PDF Acesso 27/05/2016.
6. International Companion Animal Management Coalition. Humane Dog Population Management Guidance. Londres: ICAM; http://www.rabiesblueprint.com/IMG/pdf/Link71_ DogPopManagement_ICAM.pdf. (VIN editor: Link not available.) 2007. Acesso 27/05/2016.
7. IBGE. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. www.ibge.gov.br. 2013.