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Capturing free-roaming dogs for sterilisation: A multi-site study in Goa, India
H R Fielding1, K A Fernandes2, V R Amulya2
1The Epidemiology, Economics and Risk Assessment (EERA) Group, The Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS), Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
|August 18, 2023
Summary
Managing free-roaming dogs through capture-sterilize-release programs becomes more challenging and costly as sterilization coverage increases. Understanding capture dynamics is crucial for efficient population management and disease control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Public Health
- Animal Population Management
- Wildlife Ecology
Background:
- Sterilization and rabies vaccination programs aim to control free-roaming domestic dog populations, reducing disease transmission and human-animal conflict.
- Current interventions typically involve capturing dogs, as permanent remote sterilization and widespread oral vaccination are not yet available.
- Data on how capture rates change over time with repeated efforts in defined areas is limited, hindering efficient program development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze dog capture data and identify high-probability capture locations within six catch-sterilize-release campaigns in Goa, India.
- To assess the relationship between increasing sterilization coverage and the difficulty of capturing remaining intact dogs.
- To inform resource allocation for effective free-roaming dog population management.
Main Methods:
- Utilized spatial coordinates from dog captures across six catch-sterilize-release campaigns.
- Integrated capture numbers with population survey data from five distinct sites.
- Analyzed capture trends in relation to sterilization coverage over time.
Main Results:
- Characterized spatial patterns of dog capture likelihood.
- Documented a significant increase in the difficulty of capturing intact dogs as sterilization coverage rose.
- Demonstrated a corresponding increase in the unit cost of capturing dogs with higher sterilization rates.
Conclusions:
- Repeated capture efforts for dog sterilization become progressively harder and more expensive as population coverage increases.
- Accurate estimation of resources for managing free-roaming dogs requires accounting for the diminishing returns in capture efficiency.
- This data is vital for planning efficient intervention strategies to manage dog populations and mitigate associated risks.
