Objectives

• To identify the positive and negative aspects of having companion animals in our society
• To use companion animal examples to stress the importance of general principles- e.g. ‘stakeholder concept’, five freedoms
• To illustrate the complexity of developing effective stray control programmes and stress the importance of a coordinated approach involving agencies

Companion animals

• The domestic animals which we may refer to as a ‘pet’ including cats, dogs, horses, ornamental fish and caged birds.
• Kept primarily for human companionship and pleasure
• May have additional work functions rather than performing task or producing
• Stray domestic dogs and cats can also fall within this category

Responsible Pet ownership

• Ensure the needs of the pet are provided for five freedoms
• Reduce the risk of injury or disease to humans
• Reduce the risk of injury or disease to other animals
• Reduce the risk of pollution/ nuisance to society

Problems associated with stray dogs and cats

• Direct physical injury to humans, their pets or livestock
• Indirect injury as a result of road traffic accidents
• Reservoir of disease to humans and their pets
• Pollution from faces, urine, etc
• General nuisance – e.g. noise