Street dog and feral cat populations in many countries number in the hundreds of millions, and the methods used to manage them have enormous welfare implications.
Street dogs and feral cats experience significant welfare harms including starvation, disease, injury from vehicle strikes, human violence, and the stress of harsh environments. The traditional response — mass culling — compounds welfare harm without solving population problems. Evidence-based welfare-centred management requires sustained investment, community involvement, and long-term commitment. The most welfare-positive outcomes come from integrated programmes that address both individual animal welfare and the structural drivers of street animal populations, particularly irresponsible pet ownership and inadequate spay-neuter access.