Small-scale neutering has short-term benefits, study finds
Neutering small numbers of stray dogs did not reduce dog numbers.
A review of a one-off stray neutering programme in India has revealed short-term benefits to localised neutering campaigns.
The neutering programme involved localised campaigns across five areas in Goa, in which free-roaming female dogs were captured, sterilised and returned.
The campaigns saw more than half of all female dogs neutered across the five locations, with up to two-thirds of female dogs neutered at each site.
Researchers from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, in collaboration with Worldwide Veterinary Service, monitored the impacts of each of these campaigns. The project saw them monitor free-roaming dog populations before and after sterilisation programmes across five paired sites in Goa.
These findings were then compared to areas without sterilisation programmes.
The study saw initial improvements to the welfare of the free-roaming dogs. Researchers recorded a reduced number of puppies and lactating females, fewer deaths among young dogs and reduced barking.
However, the project did not necessarily reduce dog numbers in the localised areas, with no significant change reported in dog numbers in the following two years.
The research team has suggested that a more systematic, intensive and repetitive approach could be more effective in managing dog populations. Their findings support recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which calls for responsible dog ownership, controlled breeding and waste management.
Researchers say these actions are particularly important in countries like India, where rabies and other diseases pose a risk to human and animal health.
Helen Fielding, lead author of the study, said: “One-off intensive sterilisation campaigns did not lead to significant changes in adult dog counts during the two year follow up period, indicating that current sterilisation practices may need to be reviewed and supplemented by additional strategies to counteract effects of migration and population dynamics.
“Surgical sterilisation is an appropriate tool for limiting birth rates among free-roaming dogs, however, it is unlikely to yield substantial reductions in overall population size when used in isolation in open populations.”
The full study can be found in the journal Scientific Reports.
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