Free-Roaming Dog Demographics

Dear Colleagues,

Free-roaming dogs (FRD) pose a threat to human health in countries where dog-bite related rabies is endemic. They are also responsible for causing environmental contamination through faeces, spreading garbage waste, road accidents, damage to property and noise pollution. An understanding of the core demographic characteristics of the FRD population is essential to strategise, develop and implement effective programmes for dog population management and dog-mediated zoonotic diseases including rabies. Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as demographic features (gender and age ratios, body condition scores, birth rates, the success of rearing, mortality and survival rates), and carrying capacity (availability of food and shelter) of the habitat influence the population dynamics of the FRD. Furthermore, the socio-cultural and economic features of the societies the FRD are associated with determine not only the population turnovers of the FRD but also their individual or group behavioural traits, such as territoriality, movement and tendency to form stable packs.

The goal of this special issue is to invite original research articles, communications, studies, and review articles that can enhance our understanding of the demographic characteristics of FRD in varied habitats, especially in developing countries. We intend to explore if such factors play a role in the frequency of contacts between FRD, humans and FRD, and FRD and wildlife in the fringe areas. Can the behavioural traits of FRD help formulate effective mass vaccination strategies against rabies; or can they help economise the dog population control interventions? Are there any lessons that can be learnt by the way FRD connect with human societies with different socio-cultural and economic backdrops?

Dr. Harish Kumar Tiwari
Guest Editor

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• free-roaming dogs
• zoonotic diseases
• dog-mediated rabies
• dog population management
• demographics
• mass vaccinations
• dog behaviour