Rabies is a major problem in some countries. India has the largest street dog population on earth, with about 62 million stray dogs, and the largest number of rabies deaths in the world.
New Mexico registered the highest rate in 2019, with more than 3,200 animals surrendered per 100,000 inhabitants. Next up were Idaho, Colorado, Montana and Nevada, all with more than 2,000 animals taken in per 100,000 residents, according to the Shelter Animals Count.
Istanbul is home to some 400,000 to 600,000 stray dogs and cats, estimates Ahmet Atalık, who oversees veterinary services for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
For decades, the population of Bucharest has been menaced by the vast numbers of stray dogs that roam its streets. The Romanian capital is home to more than 60,000 of them, according to officials, and their numbers continue to grow.
Stray dogs within a town or city will live anywhere they can. Like all other animals, they want to be dry and safe in a relatively quiet area. This instinct for protection makes the underside of decks and porches ideal areas for a stray dog to live.
“India has the highest rabies burden in the world and it is because of the street dogs who are protected quite strongly by law. But these same street dogs cause tens of thousands of bites in major Indian cities every day,” says Laxminarayan.
The Netherlands holds the proud, new title of being the first country in the world to have no stray dogs. Take a sigh of relief- it wasn't achieved with any euthanasia! It is estimated that there are about 200 million stray dogs throughout the world, which means we can all learn something from the Netherlands.
Staffordshire Terriers (Pit bulls) are the most often adopted shelter dog simply because they are the most surrendered and the most found as a stray by Animal Control Officers.
GREECE ALONE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE almost 3 million stray and homeless dogs and cats, in a country with 11 million inhabitants. This is HUGE!. Stray pets are a man-made problem. Every stray pet was once someone's pet, or the puppy or kitten of someone's pet that was abandoned.
Millions of stray dogs and cats live on China's streets. Some are abandoned pets, left to fend for themselves after being dumped by their owners. Many are strays born on the streets. There are many animal lovers in China, and dogs and cats are often kept as family pets.
She explained that in Japan, there's around 170,000 stray dogs and cats that are euthanised in this way but the procedure is far from kind. Shiomura hopes that more people in Japan would consider the consequences of buying a pet before making the purchase. There are more humane ways to euthanise animals.
The stray dogs can be sterilized only when they've attained the age of at least 4 months and not before that. Killing, maiming, poisoning, or rendering useless any animal is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or with a fine or with both, under Section 428 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Rhode Island ranks as the worst state for pets, but the state still has above-average animal save rates and no-kill shelters. Rhode Island ranks second to last in pet ownership, with only 45.4% of households owning at least one pet, just behind California.
The Pit Bull is the most common dog breed (along with pit bull breed mixes) found in shelters in the United States. They are also the most abused, neglected, and the most euthanized.
The reality, however, is that the majority of free-roaming dogs lead a challenging life. Therefore, it is unlikely that they are happier than many household dogs due to the harsh conditions of their daily lives.
According to Svartberg's data (PDF), a pinscher, a Bernese mountain dog, or an English springer spaniel might be the most disloyal since each ranks very low on playfulness, with moderate sociability.
1. Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog) A dog breed that has been on this planet for over 3000 years, the Aztec dog of the gods, Xoloitzcuintli was almost extinct back in the 1950s but due to efforts by breeders, it has survived.
Black Dog Syndrome
Most experienced shelter workers will tell you that black dogs are often adopted less than any other coat color. Be it black Labrador Retrievers, Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc., they are often passed over by potential adopters.
Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
According to the study: The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age. The majority of dogs (37.1%) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year.
Most dogs, 61%, are caught as strays by shelter personnel. Among those admitted to Tokyo shelters, 41% are reclaimed or returned to the owner, 7% are adopted by new owners, and 52% are euthanized.
Middle Eastern countries and Indonesia have some of the world's lowest per-capita dog rates, in part due to Islamic traditions that cast dogs as unclean. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia all have fewer than two dogs for every 1,000 people--the lowest per capita ownership rates of 53 countries surveyed by Euromonitor.
Germany is one of the dog-friendliest countries in the world. Virtually every business welcomes dogs and provides them with water and treats. Home to the largest animal sanctuary in Europe, you may want to bring one back home with you when visiting.