ORCA’S EXPERTISE

1) Research and monitoring:

• a. Population ecology research that include dog population surveys for purposes of baseline research and monitoring, research of the carrying capacity of the environment, i.e. factors of dog survival in urban and non-urban areas (e.g. arable land, forested areas, hunting grounds, etc.);
• b. Welfare assessment of dogs kept as pets, dogs roaming the streets and dogs in shelters, by applying specially designed protocols aimed at assessing conditions in which animals live, but also assessing animals themselves – their physical, psychological and behavioural state of welfare;
• c. Public attitudes survey by using different tools such as questionnaires and focus group discussions, aimed at acquiring knowledge about citizens perceptions, understanding and attitudes related to stray dog and dog ownership issues;
• d. Legal analysis including analysis of the current national and local legislative documents, their mutual harmonisation, i.e. applicability and effectiveness of particular regulatory solutions and
• e. Other types of research important for implementing dog population control measures, such as analysis of media reporting on dog ownership issues, research of the capacities and willingness of important stakeholders to actively participate in solving problems related to stray dogs, etc.