Small-scale neutering of strays has short-term benefits

Sterilisation of stray dog populations on a small scale can aid animal welfare, but does not necessarily deliver reductions in dog numbers, a landmark study in India has found. 

In the first study of its kind, researchers monitored the impacts of localised campaigns to capture, sterilise and return free-roaming female dogs in five areas of Goa, compared with similar sites with no campaigns in place.

Their study found sterilisation efforts initially curbed the number of puppies, reduced deaths in young dogs and reduced barking, but there was no reduction in dog numbers.

A more systematic, intensive, repetitive approach to managing dog populations may be more impactful, the team suggests.

Researchers from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) studied populations of free-roaming dogs before and after a programme of sterilisation across five paired sites in Goa, India.

The team sterilised more than half and up to two-thirds of females at each location, which reduced the number of puppies and lactating females. However, the initiative did not result in a significant change in adult dog numbers in the two years that followed.

Their findings, in a country where rabies and other diseases pose a risk to people, animals, and the economy, complement recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which emphasise the importance of responsible dog ownership, controlled breeding, and waste management.

The study, carried out with support from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Mathematics and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, is published in Scientific Reports.