World unites for dog and cat population management.

The International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM) recently hosted the 5th international conference on humane dog and cat population management. This 5-day virtual conference was well-supported by 1733 registrants from 121 countries worldwide.

The conference presentations were focused around seven main themes: Evolving population management, One Health, Urban development and government leadership, Rehoming and cat population management and Human behavior measurement and change.

The conference kicked off by discussing the evolving nature of population management, and that in fact, it is essential for population management programs to undertake three core activities to adapt and improve the impact and efficiency of these programs, namely:

1. To evaluate programmatic impact on animal health and welfare,
2. To evaluate the effect on human health and community perceptions,
3. To perform a cost-benefit analysis.

The link between dog population management (DPM) and rabies was apparent in a number of sessions as DPM can support rabies vaccination efforts by reducing the number of newly born puppies that would need to be vaccinated every year. This fact, delivered through a sustainable program can help vaccinators achieve the desired 70% vaccination coverage of the at-risk dog population each year. Several presentations highlighted how DPM can also contribute to human and community health, including reducing dog bites and assisting to overcome the hurdles that are hampering achieving the goal of canine rabies elimination by 2030.

As a member of the ICAM coalition, GARC’s contributions to the world of dog and cat population management were evident. GARC’s Dr Andre Coetzer showcased the Communities Against Rabies (CAR) initiative, in particular focusing on the progress made in South Africa where civil society is being unified to work towards improved animal welfare and sustainable rabies control. The program aims to build capacity in local organizations that are already doing the work on the ground, providing them with key resources, tools, knowledge, and expertise to ensure a sustainable and standardized approach that aligns with international best practices and standards. As evidence to GARC’s support, several presenters highlighted the free GARC educational courses and resources available for anyone interested in learning more about rabies and how it can be prevented. These resources and courses are being offered as part of the CAR initiative, as well as through GARCs other programmatic activities, to all stakeholders globally. 

Concerns over roaming dog and cat welfare, the population numbers, and the risks they may pose are high on the agenda of many urban areas. As cities develop, ensuring safe access to all public spaces includes management of dog and cat populations. Day three created an opportunity for municipalities to share their progress in humane management that balances citizens’ needs for safe public spaces with those of animal welfare. The success stories from Eastern Europe and Brazil showed that DPM programs are most impactful when municipalities join forces with local NGO’s already operating in the area - similar to the objective for GARC’s CAR initiative.

From the success and record-breaking attendance at this year’s ICAM virtual conference, it is evident that interest in dog and cat population management and welfare is growing, supported by strong programmatic activities that make the case for improved dog and cat population management globally. The ties and benefits to rabies control and elimination remain important for rabies elimination efforts, but also for building the One Health capacity of stakeholders, community-led initiatives, and national programs. The health and welfare of communities remains reliant on the health of all members, including animals - something especially true for dogs and cats as they live close alongside people. Let’s work together to create healthy communities for all.   

All the conference presentations can be viewed online on the ICAM website. GARC’s newest course, the Dog Welfare Certificate (DWC) is the ideal course for any person interested in contributing to dog health and welfare in their community. Learn more about the DWC here.

Article contributed by: Dr Nicolette Wright, GARC.