The importance of the management of the stray canine population in México: perspectives and challenges

Abstract

It is estimated that the canine population in Mexico is approximately 18 million, as reported by the census of the anti-rabies vaccination campaigns carried out in the country. Mexico occupies one of the first places in Latin America with canine overpopulation mainly due to the deficient knowledge of animal welfare; therefore, dogs are allowed to roam unsupervised, there is no birth control, and this causes abandonment, which harms human health, addition to socioeconomic and public policy problems. Education is an important factor in modifying social behavior, which can lead to a commitment to solutions to the problem, thus preventing abandonment, reproduction, and taking responsibility for the acquisition of a companion animal. This study presents an overview of the state of the art in the control of stray canines, for which a sustainable approach is proposed through systematic birth control and strategies focused on education. Mandatory identification can be an effective and reliable system for dog registration, thus promoting responsible dog ownership. Stray dog control should be done in a way that does not cause unnecessary pain. Trapping should be done with minimum force and minimum mental suffering, and if euthanasia is a means of control it should be done humanely.