Evaluation of a Dog Population Management Intervention: Measuring Indicators of Impact

Dogs are important companions to people but can also present challenges to health and safety of communities if their populations are not effectively managed. Dog population management (DPM) is often undertaken by individual dog owners; however, some communities require additional DPM interventions,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2020-06, Vol.10 (6), p.1061
Main Authors: Ma, Gemma C, Withers, Ann-Margret, Spencer, Jessica, Norris, Jacqueline M, Ward, Michael P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal attacks
Animal control
Animal welfare
Benchmarks
Birth control
Community
Community involvement
Community participation
Councils
dog
dog population management
Dogs
Environmental health
Euthanasia
Evaluation
Immunization
impact
Indicators
Intervention
Local government
Monitoring
Native peoples
Rabies
Semiconductors
Veterinary services
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Summary:Dogs are important companions to people but can also present challenges to health and safety of communities if their populations are not effectively managed. Dog population management (DPM) is often undertaken by individual dog owners; however, some communities require additional DPM interventions, especially when veterinary services are unavailable or underutilised. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a DPM intervention conducted in 13 communities between September 2016 and November 2019 and assessed the utility of routinely collected data-program metrics and secondary data collected by local governments-to measure indicators of impacts. The intervention resulted in significant increases in the proportion of dogs presenting that were microchipped and surgically sterilised in participating communities. The intervention also resulted in significant reductions in dog attack incidents and euthanasia of dogs in council pounds in communities that participated for three or more years. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of DPM interventions is critical to determine if impacts are being achieved. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of a DPM intervention for community safety and dog welfare and highlights the utility of routinely collected data. We also suggest benchmarks for indicators of community engagement to guide planning and monitoring of similar interventions.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani10061061