The WHO announced the number of stray animals worldwide

According to information compiled from WHO reports, Zero Stray Animal Project and Animal Homelessness Index, there are an estimated 600 million stray animals living in the world.

While some of these animals consist of owned dogs that run away from home or are abandoned on the street, and puppies born to owned and abandoned dogs, a significant portion is the new generation born to strays.

According to research from the Germany-based Zero Stray Animal Project, it was emphasized that a stray animal can sometimes give birth to 14 puppies, noting that especially female dogs can give birth twice a year.

THERE ARE 80 MILLION STREET ANIMALS IN INDIA AND 75 MILLION IN CHINA

According to the report prepared by the Animal Homelessness Index in 9 countries, India and China stand out as the countries with the most stray animals.

While India ranks first as a country with an estimated 80 million stray animals, there are believed to be approximately 10 million stray cats and 62 million stray dogs in the country.

There are an estimated 52 million stray cats and 20 million stray dogs in China. China, where approximately 3 million stray animals are in shelters, is followed by the United States with a total of 48 million stray animals.

The country with the most stray animals in proportion to its population is Greece. The stray animal population of Greece, which has a population of approximately 11 million, is 3 million.

While approximately 2 million cats and 700,000 dogs live on the streets in Greece, there are approximately 140,000 stray animals in shelters.

ZERO NUMBER OF STRAY DOGS IN THE NETHERLANDS

While living on the streets presents risks to animals, it can also harm society and the environment. Stray animals are at risk of starvation, disease, being attacked by other animals, and being killed or injured in traffic accidents.

Stray animals, which have the potential to harm creatures endemic to the region they are in, with the diseases they carry, their aggressiveness, and the instinct to protect their region, sometimes attack people as well.

Many countries take action against stray animals due to their damage to the environment and society. For example, the Netherlands managed to reduce the number of stray dogs in the country to zero with the policies it implemented. And without euthanizing the dogs.

THE ANIMALS NAMED ARE SLEEPING IN ENGLAND AND USA.

According to the UK’s Animal Homelessness Index, there are an estimated 1.1 million stray animals, of which only 67,000 are dogs. According to data from the Blue Cross, which conducts studies on stray animals in the country, 100,000 dogs are collected from the streets in England every year.

In the realm of stray animal management, which is in the hands of local municipalities, after a dog is taken off the street, it is placed in shelters and treated if it has any disease. While the authorities in the region where the dog is located are informed about the found dog, stray animal associations and foundations are also informed.

If the found dogs are not picked up by the owner within 1 week, and if they are not adopted by another person, institution or association, they are put to sleep. In the USA, although this period varies from state to state, the result remains the same as in the UK.

In India, the country with the highest number of stray animals, approximately 7 million people were attacked by dogs in 2020. According to WHO data, practices related to stray animals, which are the main source of rabies, which cause the death of approximately 20 thousand people each year, vary from one region to another.

The citizens of India, through their campaigns, want to see more serious measures taken regarding stray animals, harsher punishments for those responsible and the reduction of their numbers through sterilization.

MICROCHIP MAKES ANIMALS EASIER TO FIND

Responsible animal ownership is one of the recommendations of animal rights organizations to reduce the number of stray animals and prevent their death.

It is among the recommendations made that animal owners, who have responsibilities such as having the necessary health checks, microchips and castration, be penalized if they do not do so.

The Zero Stray Animal Project, which emphasizes the importance of being microchipped and wearing a collar with contact information, points out that a lost animal with a microchip can easily be returned to its owner, and even if abandoned, its owner can be found. . and punished.

Another recommendation is not to neglect sterilization. In this way, the unwanted reproduction of animals is avoided and the number of animals living on the street is reduced. (AA)