Rationale:

This program will provide knowledge to address the community diagnosis (Stray
Dogs). Thus, promoting health and wellness among the community people in Purok 16,
Barangay Crossing Bayabas.

Objectives:

At the end of the teaching session, the community people will be able to:

1. verbalize understanding about the topic discussed

2. enumerate practical interventions in solving the community problem

3. enumerate applicable preventive measures

Stray Dogs

Definition:

Street dogs, known in scientific literature as free-ranging urban dogs or urban free-
ranging dogs, are unconfined dogs that live in cities. They live virtually everywhere
where cities exist and the local human population allows, especially in the developing
world and the former USSR. Street dogs may be stray dogs, pets which have strayed
from or are allowed freedom by their owners, or may be feral animals that have never
been owned (Miklosi and Adam, 2008)

Etiology

1. Pet abandonment which may be caused by a number of reasons such as:

• Time constraint: People underestimating the time needed to take good care of
pets
• Behavioral problem: Such as aggression. Often due to lack of socialization and
training
• Medical problem: Pets becoming sick, for example due to poor breeding or
having age related illnesses such as dementia
• Cost of pet ownership: Owner not able to pay for food, vet care, and other bills
 • Lifestyle changes: Owners losing their job, getting divorced, having a baby,
encountering health difficulties, etc.
• Housing problem: Owners moving into rented accommodation that does not
allow pets, owners moving to smaller place, moving abroad, home foreclosure
2. Lack of legislation or enforcement regarding abandonment of pets
3. No effective mechanisms in place to collect abandoned animals and rehome
them

Signs and Symptoms

1. Large number of Stray dogs in the community

2. Substantial amount of dog feces around community
3. Opened garbage bins and scattered garbage on public roads and areas as a sign
of rummaging
4. Noise pollution due to excessive Barking and howling which is an
accompaniment to dog fights which invariably take place over mating

Interventions

1. Explain the significance of high population of stray dogs in the community

2. Explain the health risks associated with a high population of stray dogs in the
community
3. Explain the importance of responsible pet ownership.
4. Advice parents to educate their parents on the proper procedure when
encountering a stray dog
5. Demonstrate the proper procedure when encountering a stray dog.
6. Provide an open atmosphere for clarifications on the discussed topic
7. Encourage pet owners to join government programs that provide free spaying or
neutering of pets

Prevention:

- Firm education on proper pet ownership such as not abandoning pets.

Miklósi, Adam (4 December 2008). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford
University Press. p. 205. ISBN 9780191580130. Some dogs lead a relatively free life
despite being socialized to some extent. These dogs have or can establish a social
relation with human(s) and may be fed and sheltered regularly (stray dogs, village
dogs).

https://www.wsdindia.org/problems.htm

James Pirnay (April 2017) Causes of stray animals and their consequences
http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/James-Pirnay.pdf