Dogs and cats rescued in a small Brazilian city: potential rabies transmitters

Abstract

Domestic dogs and cats are the most important rabies transmitters to men in Brazil. Besides the annual vaccination realized by the public service, many animals remain unprotected and exposed to rabies. Stray animals are even more vulnerable to rabies due to sanitary conditions which they are exposed, such as contact with bats, bite injuries caused by other stray dogs and cats potentially infected, and absence of vaccination. Towards these facts, the population of domestic dogs and cats is an important aspect in rabies prevention. The present study aimed to analyze the number of dogs and cats rescued in a small Brazilian city. The study was realized in the city of Botucatu (22°53’09”S 48°26’42”W), São Paulo State, Brazil, which comprises an area of 1,482.87 km2, and has a human population of approximately 127,370 hab.. The city realizes annual vaccination campaign against rabies since 1968, and the last positive diagnosis for rabies in a dog was in 1985. Although canine/feline rabies remain controlled since this date, the infection is present in bats, bovines and horses, as confirmed by several positive diagnosis performed annually. The animal rescue is performed by the Environmental Health Surveillance Department of the Municipal prefecture, and includes stray or unwanted animals. The last group consists mostly of dogs and cats abandoned by their owners, usually declaring a sever disease, lack of physical space, excessive aggression, among others. Data were recorded from the department’s files. The number of rescued animals was as follow: in 2006 – 2,298 dogs and 560 cats; in 2007 – 2,066 dogs and 533 cats; in 2008 – 1,271 dogs and 421 cats; in 2009 – 688 dogs and 149 cats; in 2010 – 655 dogs and 204 cats; and in 2011 – 641 dogs and 199 cats. These results show a great number of animals rescued by the public service in Botucatu. A decrease in the number of animals was observed along the years, especially after 2009. This fact is a result of a municipal law (number 12.916) established in 2008, which defined new criterions for animal euthanasia, and consequently reduced the amount of this procedure. As a consequence, the Environmental Health Surveillance Department adopted a new policy, and started to rescue only stray animals causing public disturbance or visibly sick. Unwanted animals, which were frequently ordered to be euthanatized (by their owners) before 2008, were also not allowed to be rescued. Thus, the reduction of rescued animals led to a decrease in euthanasia procedures, which is in accordance with the new law. The results of this new measure, as well as the law, were not evaluated, and one must consider the possible increase of stray animal population, and also the risk of rabies infection. The responsible ownership is an important aspect that must be evaluated after the implement of this new policy, once that unwanted animals are not being allowed to be abandoned and sent to the Environmental Health Surveillance Department.