Populationen av frilevande och herrelösa hundar i Europa, bakgrund och lämpliga åtgärder

Sammanfattning: Dogs play an important role in many aspects of our society, they are used to keep us company and for practical reasons. The number of dogs in Europe is increasing and in 2019 it was estimated that it existed 87 510 000 dogs and that 24 % of all households in Europe owned a dog. It is not clear how many stray dogs that it exists in Europe but several countries report that the problem with stray dogs still exist and some countries are experiencing an increase in the stray dog population. Dogs can potentially spread virus and cause discomfort for people living in their vicinity. The dog is the underlying cause to of the deaths caused by rabies in 99 % of all cases in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying factors for the existence increase of free-living and stray dogs in Europe and to look closer at what measures that can be taken to improve the situation with both long-term and short-term solutions in mind. Information was gathered through existing literature. The results indicate that there are several reasons behind the population increasing of stray dogs in Europe. The country’s economy and the lack of knowledge among the authorities about the problem are underlying reasons as well as the knowledge and economy of dog owners. There are several solutions to the problem, such as castration, education and promoting responsible ownership to mention some. Cultural differences and economy are two aspects that need to be taken in consideration when choosing an appropriate strategy.