Dogs have different social, anthropological and religious meanings in different cultures. In some societies, they are part of the urban landscape, fed and cared for communally, and even seen as spiritual protectors and guardians. In others, they are often seen as a public health and animal welfare issue, and control and adoption policies are promoted. These perceptions reflect the deep connection between humans and dogs, and how these animals are integrated into religious and cultural beliefs and practices. They also reflect different cultural values about living with animals and the community's responsibility towards them. Based on their level of socialization with humans, dogs can be classified along a spectrum that ranges from fully owned pets, as well as free-roaming and stray dogs. Free-roaming dogs are an increasing concern worldwide, playing a significant role in the transmission of infectious and parasitic diseases, while also impacting public safety, animal welfare, and environmental sanitation. As reservoirs of various pathogens, they present a serious threat to both human and animal health, a challenge best addressed through a One Health approach. Their interactions with wildlife and livestock further complicate disease transmission dynamics, increasing the risk of zoonotic outbreaks. Socio-economic factors, such as poverty and inadequate owner responsibility, exacerbate the persistence of stray dog populations, amplifying these public health challenges. Despite the critical nature of the issue, public awareness, as well as coordinated diagnostic, treatment, and management strategies, remain insufficient, calling for urgent action and collaboration across sectors.
This Research Topic aims to find studies from diverse global contexts to shed light on cultural variations in attitudes toward dog care. It also aims to address the complex and multifaceted challenges posed by free-roaming dogs, with a focus on their role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, parasitic burdens, ownership responsibilities, and their interactions with wildlife and livestock. In addition to these goals, this collection seeks to update current knowledge, offering an up-to-date global perspective on the problem and its diverse characteristics across different regions of the world. By highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue. Recent advances in One Health approaches offer a promising framework for tackling these challenges, integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives. By exploring the intersections between stray dogs, public health, and environmental sustainability, this collection seeks to identify innovative strategies to mitigate the risks posed by free-roaming dogs.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions that explore the diverse challenges posed by free-roaming dogs from a One Health perspective. We are particularly interested in studies of the role of free-roaming dogs in the transmission of zoonotic and parasitic diseases, including their impact on human, animal, and environmental health. Submissions can address diagnosis and effective treatment strategies, as well as preventive measures to control disease spread. We encourage authors to present research on innovative management practices, case studies on successful intervention programs, and insights into the socio-economic factors that influence the persistence of stray dog populations. Comparative analyses across different regions of the world are highly encouraged, as they provide valuable perspectives on the global dimensions of this problem. Additionally, we invite reviews that offer updated assessments of the ecological, social, and health impacts of free-roaming dogs, along with the integration of diagnostic and treatment approaches within One Health frameworks.
Dogs have different social, anthropological and religious meanings in different cultures. In some societies, they are part of the urban landscape, fed and cared for communally, and even seen as spiritual protectors and guardians. In others, they are often seen as a public health and animal welfare issue, and control and adoption policies are promoted. These perceptions reflect the deep connection between humans and dogs, and how these animals are integrated into religious and cultural beliefs and practices. They also reflect different cultural values about living with animals and the community's responsibility towards them. Based on their level of socialization with humans, dogs can be classified along a spectrum that ranges from fully owned pets, as well as free-roaming and stray dogs. Free-roaming dogs are an increasing concern worldwide, playing a significant role in the transmission of infectious and parasitic diseases, while also impacting public safety, animal welfare, and environmental sanitation. As reservoirs of various pathogens, they present a serious threat to both human and animal health, a challenge best addressed through a One Health approach. Their interactions with wildlife and livestock further complicate disease transmission dynamics, increasing the risk of zoonotic outbreaks. Socio-economic factors, such as poverty and inadequate owner responsibility, exacerbate the persistence of stray dog populations, amplifying these public health challenges. Despite the critical nature of the issue, public awareness, as well as coordinated diagnostic, treatment, and management strategies, remain insufficient, calling for urgent action and collaboration across sectors.
This Research Topic aims to find studies from diverse global contexts to shed light on cultural variations in attitudes toward dog care. It also aims to address the complex and multifaceted challenges posed by free-roaming dogs, with a focus on their role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, parasitic burdens, ownership responsibilities, and their interactions with wildlife and livestock. In addition to these goals, this collection seeks to update current knowledge, offering an up-to-date global perspective on the problem and its diverse characteristics across different regions of the world. By highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the issue. Recent advances in One Health approaches offer a promising framework for tackling these challenges, integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives. By exploring the intersections between stray dogs, public health, and environmental sustainability, this collection seeks to identify innovative strategies to mitigate the risks posed by free-roaming dogs.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions that explore the diverse challenges posed by free-roaming dogs from a One Health perspective. We are particularly interested in studies of the role of free-roaming dogs in the transmission of zoonotic and parasitic diseases, including their impact on human, animal, and environmental health. Submissions can address diagnosis and effective treatment strategies, as well as preventive measures to control disease spread. We encourage authors to present research on innovative management practices, case studies on successful intervention programs, and insights into the socio-economic factors that influence the persistence of stray dog populations. Comparative analyses across different regions of the world are highly encouraged, as they provide valuable perspectives on the global dimensions of this problem. Additionally, we invite reviews that offer updated assessments of the ecological, social, and health impacts of free-roaming dogs, along with the integration of diagnostic and treatment approaches within One Health frameworks.