Lethal culling of stray dogs remains common in many countries despite evidence that humane trap-neuter-return and adoption programs are more effective at reducing populations long-term.
Mass culling causes acute suffering through inhumane killing methods and is ineffective at the population level. The dogs that survive culling operations often experience injury from trapping. Stray dogs in poorly managed populations also face chronic welfare harms from injury, disease, and starvation. Humane population management addresses both individual and population welfare simultaneously.