Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Dog management practices differ between rural and remote Metis and First Nations communities compared to urban environments; dogs are often primarily unrestricted and free-roaming. These uncontrolled dogs cause an average of 1-2 fatal maulings per year, with unknown numbers of non-fatal injuries occurring. A multiphase, convergent mixed methods study design was implemented to evaluate the perception of dog-related issues, estimate dog demographics and enumerate rates of aggressive encounters. Community-driven policies and communications were recorded, potential dog population management plans and education strategies were discussed, and implementation was followed. Alternatives were evaluated for successful reduction in dog numbers, bites and violent encounters. Community-based participatory methods of engagement with multiple groups in each community provided channels for two-way knowledge translation for researchers and community members. Strategies regarding dog ownership and preventing dog bites vary significantly between indigenous communities, and are often dependent on the perceived threat of an imminent human-canine aggressive encounter. Sustainability of interventions requires key stakeholder acceptance and support, in addition to required resources. Participatory epidemiology sustains community engagement; providing opportunities for knowledge translation and communication as communities identify main issues, potential long-term interventions and possible solutions. Involving community members in research and data collection yields opportunities to appreciate the scope and breadth of problems and community opinions. Maintaining empowered communities, capable of achieving their goals for dog-human relationships, requires constant communication and education of all stakeholders. Fortunately, comprehensive community-initiated education has the potential to dramatically decrease aggressive dog-human encounters occur in indigenous communities in Canada.