A Review and Analysis of the National Dog Population Management Program in Chile

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Free-roaming dogs are a worldwide problem that cause a wide array of issues in society. In Chile, a law protecting companion animals, and describing the role of responsible owners, was promulgated in 2017, followed by a national program aimed at mitigating dog-related problems throughout the country. The aim of this review is to explain and discuss certain components of the program and to provide suggestions for future changes. A simple model was created to assist managers in Chilean municipalities to more closely estimate the local dog population. The recommendations include the collection of baseline data and a dog population size estimate prior to implementing interventions, as well as the development of clear objectives, achievable goals and indicators, and the investment of public funds in long-term sustainable strategies such as education and enforcement rather than offering free veterinary services. ABSTRACT: Free-roaming dogs are a worldwide problem, with Chile having some of the highest human-to-dog ratios in the world. In 2017, Law 21.020 was promulgated and the federal government developed a national responsible pet ownership program. The objectives of this article are to describe and discuss the dog-related components of the program, to design a tool for determining human-to-dog ratios in Chile, and to make recommendations to managers to improve the program outcomes. The overarching goal of the program was to mitigate the conflict between humans and dogs, but many of the interventions were animal-focused and the indicators did not consider the perception of the Chilean public. Using human density data and known dog populations, we found that as the human density increased, there were fewer dogs per person. Veterinary services and sterilizations were the mainstay of the program and were offered for free to citizens. Education was offered to all ages through public events, as well as municipality and organization activities. The identification of dogs was obligatory for dog owners. Enforcement was not included in the program. The recommendations are to conduct preintervention baseline data collections and to tailor interventions and indicators appropriately; to use dog population size estimates determined at the local level rather than a country-wide estimate; to replace free veterinary services with low-cost sterilization campaigns; to create sustainable plans for education; and to create enforcement teams in communities.