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For centuries, overpopulation of street dogs and cats has been an issue that societies have dealt with in a variety of ways, many inhumane. The welfare of the animals has rarely been considered, and as a result, campaigns of poisoning, electrocution, drowning, starvation and other cruel methods have been used to "dispose" of unwanted animals. The Humane Society of the United States has been a leader on this issue in the U.S.
At the same time, Humane Society International, the global arm of The HSUS, has been working proactively in a number of developing countries around the world to extend a humane philosophy of animal control. HSI provides expertise and guidance in creating humane animal control programs that focus on sterilization and vaccination against zoonotic disease. With the help of HSI, determined local organizations have implemented spay and neuter programs all over the world to humanely address the overpopulation of street dogs and cats. A variety of methods of capture and control are used, but consideration of the welfare of the animal is always a priority.
A strong educational component is central to HSI's work, and HSI is leading the field of veterinary training in proper surgery skills to successfully and humanely perform spay and neuter procedures. We have developed training teams and centers worldwide that offer hands-on surgical opportunities for any interested veterinarians from the developing world.
HSI also believes rabies vaccination is an essential part of all sterilization programs if we are to end the spread of this deadly virus and in turn, the needless suffering of street animals.
Animal Control
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You Can Help |
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 Millions of homeless dogs and cats roam the streets, lonely and hungry, in countries around the world. You can help save their lives and offer hope for a brighter future.
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For the sake of public health and safety and the quality of life in a community, local governments must provide animal control services. It is up to city and county governments to provide mechanisms to resolve conflicts that will protect both people and animals.
An animal control program should perform several functions:
• it should enforce laws,
• rescue mistreated animals,
• humanely euthanize animals received that are not reclaimed by their owners or adopted, or who are suffering and untreatable,
• promote licensing of both cats and dogs,
• and provide a low-cost spay/neuter program that enables all residents to sterilize their pets.
• Finally, an effective animal control program must deter future problems through public education.
The most successful programs integrate three basic components: legislation, education, and sterilization (LES). Animal shelters, both public and private, that follow this formula have reported significant decreases in the numbers of animals they handle after a few years of program operation. Among the common elements employed by these agencies:
• local policies that encourage sterilization and vaccination;
• a low-cost spay/neuter clinic (or some other effective low-cost spay/neuter program);
• mandatory sterilization for all animals adopted from sheltering facilities; and
• a public education program.
Our Global Work
- In Jaipur, India, HSI supports the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Extension Project through the organization Help in Suffering, an HSI Animal Advocate. Over the last decade, this project has helped train countless veterinarians in humane surgical techniques, as well as overall humane animal control methods. ABC has improved the standards of animal surgery and post-operative care as well as greatly contributed [PDF] to the expansion of spaying/neutering throughout Asia. This program has also been a shining example of how vaccination/sterilization programs can succeed in eradicating the incidence of rabies in both the street dog and human populations. It is estimated that 20,000 people a year die from rabies in India; however, within the city limits of Jaipur, with a human population of 2.3 million, there have been no cases of human rabies deaths in the last five years.
- On Abaco Island, Bahamas, HSI supported [PDF] local groups in organizing several sterilization clinics. Dogs who were seen were also vaccinated against rabies and given a health check. The community response was overwhelmingly positive and the project continues today on several other Bahamian islands.
- During the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami, HSI stepped in to sterilize and vaccinate as many street dogs as possible in Sri Lanka, dispelling fears of a substantial rabies outbreak throughout the initial recovery period.
- In the late 1990s in Taiwan, HSI's work culminated in the successful organization of eight training sessions for local groups and officials involved in animal control. HSI's influential guidance continues in Taiwan today.
- In March 2007, HSI sponsored a forum on small animal overpopulation in Mexico, bringing together government officials, several Mexican animal welfare organizations and individual activists to address such pressing issues as humane animal control, humane euthanasia and the control of zoonotic diseases, with animal welfare in mind.
- And in November 2007, HSI co-sponsored with Animals Asia a conference on small animal welfare in China, addressing the broad issues many organizations face in a country with no animal protection laws.
These are just a few of the programs HSI has effectively initiated and seen to fruition with the invaluable support of resident animal protection groups and government cooperation.
