Street Dogs Research Articles

Technology for Improving Street Dog Welfare and Capturing Data in Digital Format during Street Dog Sterilisation Programmes.

Simple SummaryHumane Society International (HSI) facilitates dog sterilisation programmes internationally, which includes population surveys of street dogs to gain basic demographic information and to set a baseline for future monitoring operations. HSI has developed a web and mobile application suite called ‘HSIApps’ with custom tailored workflows to improve the efficiency (lower programmatic cost) and improve the welfare of dogs in care throughout the sterilisation process. The Android-based mobile app is simple and easy to use for teams in the field. The web app has data dashboards, record views, and reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes. The use of such digital applications can improve dog population management programme implementation, ensure positive outcomes for dogs postoperatively, and facilitate programmatic monitoring and evaluation. We describe here the use of this application and insights gained through its use in HSI’s street dog monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment (MEIA) programmes in India.Street dogs survive on food handouts provided by individuals, or the wider community yet typically receive limited to no veterinary care. They can also carry a variety of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, posing a significant risk to human and dog population health. Dog sterilisation is one of the most humane and effective methods available to control street dog populations. Dog sterilisation programmes, particularly those operating at a large-scale, often face a variety of challenges including limited resources, staffing, and less-than-ideal facilities. Recordkeeping is often a challenge as well, which can complicate the return of a sterilised dog to their location of capture. Street dogs are territorial, and the return of a dog to an incorrect location is fraught with various welfare issues, as well as an increased risk of postoperative complications, including death. Humane Society International developed a mobile phone-based application called ‘HSIApps’ drawing on years of field experience and data collection in street dog location recording, as well as clinical and postoperative treatment. HSIApps facilitates the return of dogs back to their exact captured location, which ensures dog welfare, and generates reports of a variety of useful data variables to maximise the efficacy and reliability of sterilisation programmes.

Paws on the Street: Neighborhood-Level Concentration of Households with Dogs and Urban Crime.

The formative work of Jane Jacobs underscores the combination of "eyes on the street" and trust between residents in deterring crime. Nevertheless, little research has assessed the effects of residential street monitoring on crime due partly to a lack of data measuring this process. We argue that neighborhood-level rates of households with dogs captures part of the residential street monitoring process core to Jacobs' hypotheses and test whether this measure is inversely associated with property and violent crime rates. Data from a large-scale marketing survey of Columbus, OH, USA residents (2013; n=43,078) are used to measure census block group-level (n=595) rates of households with dogs. Data from the Adolescent Health and Development in Context study are used to measure neighborhood-level rates of trust. Consistent with Jacobs' hypotheses, results indicate that neighborhood concentration of households with dogs is inversely associated with robbery, homicide, and, to a less consistent degree, aggravated assault rates within neighborhoods high in trust. In contrast, results for property crime suggest that the inverse association of dog concentration is independent of levels of neighborhood trust. These associations are observed net of controls for neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics, temporally lagged crime, and spatial lags of trust and dog concentration. This study offers suggestive evidence of crime deterrent benefits of local street monitoring and dog presence and calls attention to the contribution of pets to other facets of neighborhood social organization.

Seasonal Patterns of Oestrus and Reproduction in Street Dogs of Indian Cities.

Understanding seasonal breeding dynamics is essential for maximizing efficiency and welfare in the application of street dog management programs. Humane Society International (HSI) has conducted many animal birth control programmes concerning the street dog populations in urban India. This paper analyses the data on reproductive indicators—oestrus, pregnancy, and pups—collected by HSI sterilization clinics in the cities of Jamshedpur, Dehradun, and Vadodara over a period of 3, 5, and 4 years, respectively. We found a consistent reproductive seasonality dynamic in all three cities, with peak oestrus and pregnancies occurring in the late/post-monsoon season. Pup proportions peaked soon after. Both these findings are consistent with previous studies of free-roaming domestic dog populations both in India and worldwide. Additionally, we identified minor inter-city differences in the temporal breeding dynamic, which we propose are the result of localized seasonal climatic and human factors. Finally, we examine and assert the relevance of breeding seasonality in the implementation of efficient and welfare-sensitive birth control programmes.

English

BACKGROUND Rabies is a viral disease producing an almost uniformly fatal encephalitis in humans and other mammals. There is no established treatment for rabies once symptoms have begun. Rabies vaccination for prevention and PET is essential in the management of the illness. The purpose of present study was to describe the clinical profile and management of dog bite patients presenting to the tertiary care hospital in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. METHODS Patients presenting to the outpatient and emergency department with the complaint of dog bite were enrolled in the study. All particulars of patients, history and examination findings were recorded in the clinical proforma after taking proper informed consent. Wounds were categorized based on WHO guide to postexposure prophylaxis. Local treatment consisted of two parts: first aid and wound management. ARV was administered in category II and III exposures in accordance to the intradermal schedule. Data was analysed for clinical information such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, dog type, site of bite, categories of contact and treatment given. RESULTS In our study of 73 patients, 36 (49.32%) were males and 37 (50.68%) were females. Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 11-40 years in both male (n=29; 80.5%) and female (n=26; 70.3%) patients. Mean age group of patients in the study was 30.50 years. Based on modified Kuppuswamy scale, most patients belonged to the class III (n=42; 57.6%) followed by class IV (n=14; 19.2%). Dog bites from both strays and pets were almost equal. However, only 50% pet dogs were partially vaccinated and remainder were not vaccinated. Thus, mandating the use of ARV immunization. All the patients sustaining bites from street dogs were vaccinated. Majority of the bites involved the lower extremities (n=31; 42.5%) followed by upper extremities (n=26; 35.6%). Based on WHO guidelines for wound categories, most patients belonged to category II (n=36; 49.3%) followed by category III (n=31; 42.5%). CONCLUSIONS In our study, we found that majority of patients sustaining dog bites were young adults and belonged to lower middle & upper lower class. There was no difference with respect to gender and dog type. Most common sites of dog bite were upper & lower extremities and belonged to WHO category II. No cases of rabies were observed in our study. KEY WORDS Dog, Animal, Bite, Rabies, Immunization, Prophylaxis, Treatment

Compassion, Hunger and Animal Suffering: Scenes from Kerala, South India

ABSTRACT Animal narratives have not been a major part of the coronavirus pandemic other than to frame animals as “epidemic villains” whose relations with humans are either zoonotic or pathological. In this context, this article considers stories of compassion from Kerala, where activists and ordinary people started feeding stray dogs and other street animals during the state instituted lockdowns. State sanction and media coverage of feeding these hungry animals allowed them to be instated as part of a multispecies community in the pandemic, allowing them for the first time, legitimized access to food and water. Compassion was prescribed and validated on the basis of perceiving suffering synergistically or as mutually experienced during the pandemic. However, a linear history of compassion cannot be constructed as Kerala has an antagonistic relationship with street dogs framing them as violent free-ranging dogs that carry diseases and attack people. This article draws on insights gleaned from multispecies ethnography to explore the hidden everyday lives of the animals during the pandemic. It raises questions about how people come to occupy relations of care in societies where animal suffering is not acknowledged and explores the possibilities opened by the way compassion was constructed as a practical and moral value during the pandemic.

Successful retrieval of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in a street dog

Successful retrieval of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in a street dog

Христианские монастыри Востока VI-VII вв. в «священном пространстве» Лествицы Иоанна Синайского

The article studies the translation of The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John Climacus with the aim to name historical evidence and facts about the life in Eastern monasticism of the 6th-7th centuries, described in this work of literature. The author uses the term “sacred space” to define the residences of Egyptian monks described by John Climacus. In total, The Ladder names four Christian monasteries (St. Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai, the Raifa Monastery, the Lavra of St. Savva the Sanctified, and the Tavennisi Monastery), Scetis, five places of monastic seclusion near St. Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai (Fola, Siddin, Arsilaia, and two unnamed places: the residence of St. Stephen on Mount Sinai and the residence of Isychii on Mount Khoriv). The names of three monasteries included in the “sacred space” are not given, though The Ladder contains vivid pictures of the life there. These are: 1) a monastery in Asia, where St. Acacius of Sinai lived; 2) a monastery in Pontus, where St. John the Silent lived; 3) a monastery near Alexandria, which plays the key role in the “sacred space” of The Ladder. This monastery owned a lavra and a metochion, used a prison. The name of the hegumen of this monastery is also unknown, though The Ladder presents him as an ideal collective vision of a senior priest: a sheperd, father, teacher, judge, doctor, helmsman, and artist. The symbolic key to understanding The Ladder is the Parable about the Good Shepherd and the Mercenary. The traits of a “good shepherd” The Ladder are epitomized by an anonymous hegumen of an anonymous monastery. Concealing the name of the hegumen, John Climacus names the monks who lived in this monastery (Isidore, Lawrence, Avvakir, Macedonian, Mina). In total, there were 330 monks, besides those were in the lavra or metochion. John Climacus privides a vibrant description of the life in this monastery, which he observed for two month, paying special attention to the description of the monastery prison. The monks voluntarily doom themselves to suffering in the prison, with their torments making the deepest impression on the medieval reader. These images can be found in various types of fine arts, in Byzantine hymnography and in other literary monuments, for example, in the “Testament” of the Kiev Metropolitan Constantine I, who ordered not to bury his body after death, but to drag it out to the wasteland and leave it to be torn apart by the street dogs. The question remains why the name of a huge monastery near Alexandria, whose hegumen enjoyed undoubted spiritual authority, has not been mentioned in The Ladder. Probably, the monastery was the spiritual center of Monothelitism, so that it was cursed and deleted from all sources, including The Ladder. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

Evaluating systemic administration effect of propranolol on osseointegration around titanium implants: A histomorphometric study in dogs

Dental implants are known as a widely accepted and predictable method to replace missing teeth. Many factors, including using a class of drugs, such as β-blockers, can improve the osseointegration of dental implants. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between administrating propranolol and osseointegration in dental implants. This experimental animal study was performed on four native male street dogs of 11-13 kg of weight and 16-20 months of age. The specimens underwent teeth extraction. After that, the dogs were randomly divided into two groups. The first group contains two control dogs which would receive oral saline. The second contains two dogs which would receive oral tablets of propranolol daily. After a period of healing, three titanium implants were inserted in each of speciments' left mandibular quadrant, and treatment was resumed with propranolol and saline administration in case and control group, respectively. After 4 weeks, one of control group dogs and one of case group were anesthetized, and dental implants were removed alongside the peripheral bone marrow using a trephine drill. Meanwhile, the other two dogs (1 control and 1 propranolol administered dogs) were anesthetized after 9 weeks of implant placement, and the same procedure was carried out. Due to the histomorphometric assessment, the mean score of bone implant contact (BIC) in week 4 was significantly higher in case group compared to control one (68.33% vs. 20.22%). In week 9, the mean BIC score was higher in case group compared to control group (68.60% vs. 50.17%); meanwhile, in contrast to week 4, it was not statistically significant. In both case and control groups, the formation of woven and lamellar bone was more significant in week 4 rather than week 9. Administration of systemic β-blockers can improve dental implants osseointegration process.

Rabia en perros y gatos en Brasil: Análisis descriptivo

The easy transmission of rabies virus among domestic and street dogs and cats, in which it causes pathogenic dissemination even to humans is a major public health problem in Brazil. The Brazilian epidemiology carried out through the prophylaxis of rabies vaccination campaigns has enabled the significant change in the pictures of infected animals notified to the Ministries of Health, Livestock Agriculture and Supply. Although notified, the pictures need to be investigated and potentially correlated with the human pictures also infected and failures of annual vaccination supplies. In this descriptive analysis, it was observed that as a priority the Northeast region led with the highest number of cases of rabies virus in the 3 years analyzed (2017-2018-2019). Thus, it is observed that even with positive national coverage, confirmed cases were still obtained, except for an ideal regulation and maintenance of cases where no confirmed cases were obtained. It is concluded that zoonotic diseases are gradually decreasing as their prophylaxis maintains its linear.

Behavior of rural and urban free-ranging dogs in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Free-ranging dogs are often associated with human habitation in many developing countries, and are found in both rural and urban environments in Viçosa, Brazil. Urban free-ranging dogs (UFDs) are opportunistic and feed on leftovers, whether given to them or scavenged from trash cans while they wander about the streets. Most free-ranging dogs living in rural areas (RFDs) protect property and cattle. Depending on their behaviors, such as aggression or roaming, both UFDs and RFDs can be a health problem for people and other animals. The aim of this study was to investigate behavioral differences between UFDs and RFDs. Due to the guardian role of RFDs, it was hypothesized that they would be more aggressive and present less locomotor activity than the UFDs. In this study, 40 UFDs living on the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) campus and 15 RFDs living on 6 rural properties in Viçosa, Brazil, were examined. The dogs were observed for twelve months, at different times during a 24-hour cycle, with 14 behavioral categories being recorded. RFDs showed significantly more vigilance (P< 0.01) and interspecific agonistic behavior (P< 0.01) than UFDs. UFDs showed significantly more locomotor behavior (P< 0.01) than RFDs. UFDs are less aggressive than RFDs, but they move more often. Resource availability, such as scattered food, influenced the locomotor activity in UFDs, whereas RFDs did not experience the same effect as they were supplied with a temporal and spatial feeding schedule. To the RFDs, concentrated resources such as food and shelter are highly defensible. This study showed that, in Viçosa (Brazil), RFDs and UFDs displayed different behaviors. These differences are most likely driven by the resource-defense behavior of RFDs.

The Debate of Post-human Ethics in the Implementation of Futuristic Automatons: The Case Study of Robotic Dogs in Utopian Western Military juxtaposed against the Real Abuse of Street Dogs in a Dystopian Global South

The Debate of Post-human Ethics in the Implementation of Futuristic Automatons: The Case Study of Robotic Dogs in Utopian Western Military juxtaposed against the Real Abuse of Street Dogs in a Dystopian Global South

Pattern of Animal Bites and Post Exposure Prophylaxis for Rabies: An One Year Study in Bangladesh Institute of Tropical Infectious Disease (BITID) Chattogram

Background: Rabies is a global disease occurring in more then 150 countries including Bangladesh. It was neglected in Bangladesh before 2010 with more than 2000 annual rabies case. Number of rabies patients are declining in whole world due to more availability of resources needed for rabies prevention. In this background here our objective is to study the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in rabies &amp; to observe the pattern of animal bites in Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Disease (BITID) which is a national institute dealing Tropical &amp; Infectious disease of Bangladesh.&#x0D; Materials and methods: It was a retrospective study carried out among bite patients coming to BITID (Both outdoor &amp; indoor) from 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2017 where a registry of all post exposure treatment was maintained. Total 1863 cases of animal bite patients came to BITID over the study period. The data were analyzed finally.&#x0D; Results: Among 1836 cases, 1185(63.66%) were male and 678 (34.44%) were female. 1155 cases (62%) belonged to &gt;12 years of age and 708 (38%) cases belonged £12 years of age 815(43.74%) cases were category III bite. 1386 (74.4%) cases were bitten by dog &amp; bites in 1110 (59.6%) cases occurred in lower limbs. Most patients 1138 cases (61.1%) came from rural areas &amp; maximum bites occurred from March 2017 to September 2017.&#x0D; Conclusion: Animal bite is a great burden for Bangladesh. To prevent it we need public awareness, mass dog vaccination, street dog control and complete post exposure prophylaxis as per schedule given by national rabies elimination program of Bangladesh government.&#x0D; Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (1); January 2021; Page 51-54

Comparing Behavioural Problems in Imported Street Dogs and Domestically Reared Danish Dogs-The Views of Dog Owners and Veterinarians.

Simple SummaryOwnerless dogs are common in parts of Southern and Eastern Europe. Some so-called street dog organisations sell them on to buyers in North European countries such as Denmark—typically via local shelters. However, with their background, the dogs may struggle to adapt to their new life as companion animals. Behavioural problems may ensue, affecting the dogs’ welfare and also presenting difficulties for the new owners. The study reported here investigated whether former street dogs imported into Denmark display more behavioural problems than dogs reared in Denmark. We examined responses to two surveys, one of Danish dog owners and one of Danish veterinarians. Our analysis appeared to confirm that street dogs display behavioural problems to a higher degree than dogs reared in Denmark. Behaviours associated with fear, stress and aggression were especially common. The extent of the behavioural problems reported by the veterinarians was greater than that reported by the dog owners, most of whom reported low levels of problems. This may be due, at least partly, to stress reactions in dogs handled by veterinarians.Street dogs are common in southern and eastern parts of Europe. They are often adopted by people living in North European countries, including Denmark. However, these dogs may experience difficulties adjusting to their new life as companion animals, and this may in turn lead to behavioural problems and complications for owners. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate whether former street (FS) dogs display a higher degree of behavioural problems than dogs reared in Denmark (RD). Two questionnaires were developed. One was distributed to Danish dog owners and resulted in 3020 useful answers. FS dogs were found to display 9 of the 45 listed behaviours more often than RD dogs. All of these behaviours were related to fear, aggression and stress. The second questionnaire was distributed to Danish veterinarians working in small animal practices and resulted in 173 useful answers. The most commonly reported behavioural problems were fear of humans, stress and problems when the dog was left at home alone. The extent of the behavioural problems reported by the veterinarians was much greater than that reported by the dog owners which, at least partly, may be due to fear-induced reactions of the dogs when handled at the veterinary clinic.

Imposing COVID-19 lockdown and reported dog bite cases: An experience from a tertiary antirabies center of North India

The world was taken aback after the corona pandemic started from China and soon engulfed the whole of the world. Strict restrictions were in place since the beginning, and people were confined to their homes; only emergency services were allowed to work. The study's objectives were to see the effect of lockdown on the number of dog bite cases being reported to our antirabies clinic. The study was conducted in the antirabies clinic of the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. This study involved a dog bite victim who approached the said clinic during the lockdown, which was implemented in the wake of COVID-19 from March 21, 2020 to June 03, 2020. We included all the dog bite victims living in the Srinagar city and from the adjoining districts who had been bitten by the street dog during the lockdown phase. Over 5 years, 4,670 (73.6%) dog bites among males were reported. The proportion of dog bites among males varies from 72% to 81% in the 5 years. It can be observed that a maximum of 783 (81.1%) dog bites were reported from males during the lockdown period in 2020. Moreover, 2,847 (44.9%) bites were category II dog bites, while 3,392 (55.1%) were category III dog bites. There were fewer dog bites reported at the first, fourth, seventh, eighth, and ninth weeks while there was a little surge in cases on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 10th week. Lockdown had indirectly reduced the number of dog bite cases reported to the clinic during different lockdown phases than the previous year's data.

Studies on dog population and its implication for rabies control

Dog population studies were carried out in Agbowo area, Ibadan. Oyo state using the street Counting Technique and Questionnaire Survey approaches. 17 dogs were observed on average through street counting technique, 719 houses and structures were identified both inhabited and uninhabited on 42 street networks. 25 households with 441 inhabitants responded positively to Questionnaire Survey. The ratio of household dogs to man and street dogs to man were 1:11 and 1:25 respectively. The level of rabies vaccination observed was 33.3% while only 5% of the dogs were immunized against canine distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis. Four people were bitten either by their dog or other people's dog. 68% of the household dogs were outdoor most of the tinie and unleashed deriving their food from family food waste and scavenging about. In view of these observations there is need to embark on a nationwide dog population census for effective veterinary healthcare delivery system.

A trend analysis of animal bite cases attending a Tertiary Care Hospital, Odisha during COVID lockdown.

A nationwide lockdown was imposed from March 25, 2020, to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to analyze the trend, pattern of animal bite cases and to quantify the reduction in the incidence of animal bite cases due to diminution of exposure time with animals as a result of lockdown. The interrupted time series method was used to evaluate the effect of lockdown on the incidence of animal bite cases. Right after the lockdown, the mean number of reported animal bite cases decreased significantly (P = 0.04) by 8.3%. Furthermore, the month-to-month change of cases for the postlockdown period was in decreasing trend (ß3 = 0.872) and was significant (P < 0.05). Reduction in the exposure time with street animal surely reduce the incidence in animal bite cases and hence, the Government should take appropriate actions to control the intermixing of street dogs with marginal populations at the village and urban slums level.

The Influences of Buddhism and Development on the Well-Being of Bhutan's Street Dogs

Bhutan is the only country that has implemented a nationwide capture-neuter- vaccinate-release (CNVR) program to manage its street dog population. To explore motivations for the implementation of the program and the extent to which it is successful, face-to-face interviews were conducted with representatives of all three animal sanctuaries in Bhutan that focus on the well-being of street dogs. Results suggest that Bhutan’s transition to democracy, coinciding with increases in socioeconomic development and tourism from the West, and incorporation of Buddhist teachings in its consideration of street dog management strategies guided the implementation of a nationwide CNVR program. A lack of both resources and a plan to acquire them, along with inexperience with democratic practices, however, may interfere with successful management of the program, resulting in a growing street dog population. Development in Bhutan also poses risks to the well-being of street dogs.

Dog Rabies in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Implications for Control

Controlling rabies among free-roaming street dogs has been a huge challenge in many parts of the world. Vaccination is a commonly used strategy to control rabies, however, sufficient vaccination coverage is very challenging when it comes to street dogs. Also, dog rabies data is scarce, making it difficult to develop proper strategies. In this study, we use a logistic growth incorporated epidemic model to understand the prevalence of rabies in the dog population of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study shows that, the basic reproduction number for dog rabies in Dhaka lies between 1.1 to 1.249 and the environmental carrying capacity lies approximately between 58,110 to 194,739. Considering the vaccination and neuter programs administered in the last decade, we attempt to explain rabies transmission among dogs in this population. We found that the high basic reproduction number is associated with high environmental carrying capacity and vice versa. Further, we compare different type of control strategies, viz., constant vaccination, pulse vaccination, and optimal vaccination strategies. In the case of high environmental carrying capacity, vaccination, and neuter strategy is not sufficient for controlling rabies in street dogs, whereas carrying capacity control through waste management coupled with vaccination and neuter is more effective.

The Self-Reflexive Art of Don DeLillo. Graley Herren. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. Pp. viii+268.

<i>The Self-Reflexive Art of Don DeLillo</i>. Graley Herren. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. Pp. viii+268.

Application of analytic hierarchy process to evaluate design criteria for humane trap cage.

Atrocities against stray animal’s especially large number of scavenging street dogs have increased at an alarming rate nationwide. Relevant authorities, in view of controlling stray animal population and curb chronic infections mulled cracking down on stray dogs using inhumane methods such as usage of tranquilizers or forcefully capturing. Thus, causing injuries, trauma and potentially death to these captured strays. Even though statistics about the number of violent incidents against strays remains unknown but animal welfare groups report constant complaints regarding animal cruelty. Animal activists mooted a request to design and built a modernize efficient yet low cost trap cage with a provision of technology which are normally ignored by many quarters; as a vehicle to educate the public on humane and compassionate ways to treat stray animals.&#x0D; &#x0D; The design of the cage involves consists of 3 parts, which was electronics hardware, communication system and critically the structure hardware whereby to withstand the possible aggressiveness of the animal. The objective of this paper is to present and apply the techniques of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in the prioritization and selection of design criteria of the trap cage. The finding shows that out of 5 design criteria, quality criteria is the most important criteria in designing of a humane trap cage issue. This is followed by innovativeness, cost, safety and aesthetics factors.