The solution: Dog and Cat Population Management
Humane, effective, and enduring
Humane Population Management is a compassionate, evidence-led approach to managing Dog (DPM) or Cat (CPM) populations that make our neighbourhoods better for everyone.
Fix the cause, not the consequence
Picture unwanted, neglected dog and cat populations as water leaking from a ceiling. Shelters are buckets catching water but eventually overflowing; culling is mopping endlessly while the ceiling continues to leak. Population Management finds the source of the leaks – the origins of unwanted stray dogs and cats – and tackles it at its root.
Identifying the sources
DPM and CPM uses collects and analyses data to identify the origins of neglected free-roaming dogs and cats. Sources vary but can include:
- Stray animals born on the streets.
- People abandoning unwanted animals.
- Loss of owned animals and failure to reunite with owners.
- Owned animals roaming freely outside their home.
The DPM/ CPM Toolbox
Once practitioners have identified the origins of neglected, free-roaming dogs and cats, they use a toolbox of solutions targeted to those sources. Those ‘tools’ can include:
- Sterilisation and vaccination of stray animals to create healthy, stable animal populations, reducing breeding on the streets.
- Regulation, education and better access to veterinary services to promote compassionate and responsible ownership and reduce abandonment.
- Identification and registration to reunite dogs and cats with their owners.
- Community outreach to promote safe and compassionate behaviour around dogs and cats.
- Strong animal welfare laws to protect both animals and people.
- Good governance to ensure sustained improvements.
DPM and CPM benefits animals, people, and the city as a whole
By addressing the root causes, population management improves both animal welfare and community well-being. The benefits extend beyond just helping dogs and cats. Cities that implement effective dog and cat population management can experience:
- Reduced the risk of cat and dog-related diseases to improve public health.
- Cleaner, safer, and more attractive neighbourhoods.
- Decreased bites, animal waste, and animal-related traffic accidents for safer streets.
- Children learning about empathy and responsibility through positive interactions with dogs and cats.
- Communities coming together around a shared commitment to animal welfare.
Humane Dog and Cat Population Management isn’t just about solving a problem—it’s about building a kinder, more balanced society where dogs, cats and people live in harmony, enriching each other’s lives.