It's good to think about how controlling dog numbers can help the economy and well-being of both humans and dogs. As well as trying to lessen the problem of stray dogs, successfully ensuring the wellbeing of dogs and humans so they can get along is a challenge that is often overlooked. When planning and making decisions about how to best manage dog populations, understanding the effects on society, economy and local community is vital. There are often ways other than catching and releasing.

        Think of the simplest scenario: when you are taking care of a dog, you are making budget for feeding and veterinary care, but there are also expenses you probably didn't plan for, like destroying items during its daily play. This is how it effects our homes and towns, but imagine it on a much larger scale. Managing dog numbers needs financial and social resources to be provided effectively by local governments and services. This is not considered often in the public eye.

        The wellbeing of dogs is an ethical challenge for us. People often don't focus on how these programs impact not only the dogs, but the people around it as well. It might be difficult, but it is necessary to assess these impacts and make decisions based on evidence. There is a lack of consistent data and sometimes even disagreement about what is considered effective in management systems. There is often a poor understanding of how these programs can benefit humans and their communities.

        In order to deal with what is a real and present problem, we as a community must think critically, on all current situations and future outcomes of dog population management. It is important to carefully consider the value of doing a thorough assessment of the impact to dogs, people and pets living together.  Not all dog management systems are the same.

        Local people should also work at grassroots level to include the broader community.

        Critically evaluate the current systems and reinvent a new way of applying DPM that will benefit everyone.

Man's Best Friend's Impact on Human Society

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