Stray dogs can be vicious and attack other animals including livestock, and people. Moreover
stray animals are frequently involved in road accidents.
− Animal health and welfare can be seriously affected, directly when the stray animals
themselves live under poor conditions (e.g. hunger, chronic skin disorders, lack of shelter,
etc) and indirectly when inappropriate dog population control measures (e.g. shooting,
poisoning, inhumane handling) are used. The health and welfare of other animals, like sheep
and goats, can be endangered by stray dogs attacking them.
− Various reasons lay behind the large numbers of stray dogs. Cultural and socio-economic
reasons, insufficient knowledge and understanding of prevention and control measures, lack
of communication and coordination amongst stakeholders and decision makers and many
more play a role.
− The way stray dog problems are addressed varies a lot. At EU level there is no legal
framework or guidelines. Decisions about legislation and enforcement measures fall under
the competence of the Member States. In most countries the issue is handled at
municipality level, often without much coordination in and between municipalities.
− The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in Chapter 7.7 of the Terrestrial animal
Health Code1
, recognizes the importance of controlling dog populations without causing
unnecessary animal suffering and gives recommendations for the prevention of zoonotic
diseases and dog population control.