Bhutan Achieves Milestone: Complete Sterilization and Vaccination of Stray Dog Population

November 2, 2023

In a significant milestone for animal welfare and public health, Bhutan has become the world’s first country to successfully sterilize and vaccinate its entire stray dog population. The achievement comes after a 14-year-long dog population control program.

The National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project

The National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project, initiated in 2009, aimed to address the issue of stray dogs in Bhutan. With the support of the global animal charity, Humane Society International (HSI), the program has sterilized and vaccinated over 150,000 stray dogs and microchipped 32,000 pet dogs.

A Huge Stray Dog Population Challenge

Across Asia, an estimated 300 million stray dogs face challenges such as starvation, parasitic infections, untreated diseases, injuries from road traffic accidents, and transmissible cancers. These dogs often endure direct persecution and inhumane culling. The successful efforts in Bhutan set an example for addressing this widespread issue.

The Importance of Sterilization and Vaccination

Effective sterilization and vaccination of stray dog populations are crucial to prevent an increase in dog bites and the spread of rabies. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that rabies causes approximately 59,000 human deaths globally each year, with most cases resulting from dog bites. Many Asian governments have previously relied on inhumane methods like culling and mass sheltering to manage street dogs.

UN Organizations Recommend Oral Rabies Vaccination

The United Nations organizations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), WHO, and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have recommended the use of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) for dogs. This method is seen as more effective in targeted elimination efforts, particularly for regional wildlife populations.

Challenges and Customization

While traditional injectable vaccines have been used for mass dog vaccinations, ORV presents new possibilities. However, implementing ORV in middle- and low-income countries in Africa and Asia comes with its own challenges. The UN suggests integrating ORV into national strategies to control rabies in dog populations and customizing programs based on each country’s resources and socio-cultural factors.

A Global Goal for 2030

By embracing these recommendations, countries can enhance their efforts to control dog-mediated rabies and work toward the global goal of zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. Bhutan’s achievement serves as a pioneering example of humane and effective stray dog population management and rabies control.

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