Globally, an estimated 200 million stray dogs face welfare challenges including starvation, disease, and inhumane culling, with humane population management alternatives showing better long-term outcomes.
Stray dog welfare is a global public health and animal welfare challenge whose solution requires both compassion and evidence. Mass culling — the traditional response — is welfare-harmful and ineffective: removed populations are rapidly replaced by immigration and increased reproduction in remaining animals. Trap-Neuter-Return programmes, combined with rabies vaccination and where possible homing programmes, reduce populations gradually while improving the welfare of individual animals. The humane approach is also the evidence-based approach. Community-based dog population management programmes that engage local residents have achieved sustainable population reductions in multiple countries.