The Working Group has been established to develop a consensus paper that provides additional guidance and context in relation to companion animal reproduction control and population management, expanding upon topics discussed in chapter 6 of the existing WSAVA Reproduction Control (Cats and Dogs) Guidelines (2024).

The Working Group has not been established to replace, revise or supersede the existing Guidelines. Rather, its role is to expand upon, contextualise and provide additional multidisciplinary perspectives in areas identified through feedback received following publication of the Guidelines.

The paper will address the following themes:

1.Global Considerations in Cat and Dog Population Management

The Working Group will explore the wider global context within which reproduction control decisions are made, recognising that veterinary recommendations are influenced by cultural, social, economic, ethical and legislative factors.

Topics within this section may include:

• contextual approaches to veterinary care;
• concepts relating to responsible pet ownership and guardianship and when and where the use of such terms maybe appropriate;
• One Health/One Welfare/human-animal interactions in the context of reproductive control
• sociocultural and socioeconomic influences on companion animal care;
• regional approaches to dog and cat ownership and guardianship;
• ethical considerations relating to reproduction control;
• legislative and regulatory approaches adopted in different countries and regions, including emerging technologies and practices where relevant.

2. Dog and Cat Population Dynamics

The Working Group will consider the factors influencing companion animal population dynamics and the implications these have for animal health, welfare and veterinary practice, recognising the diversity of contexts that exist internationally.

Topics may include:

• companion animal overpopulation;
• human-animal interactions;
• systems-based approaches to population management;
• resource availability;
• infectious disease considerations;
• environmental, social and demographic factors influencing population
• The role of pet/owned animals as part of the dog/cat population management ‘system’ (refer to existing WSAVA Reproduction Control (Cats and Dogs) Guidelines (2024) for detail on population management in owned/confined animals)

3. Principles of Reproduction Control in the Shelter and Rehoming Context

The Working Group will develop practical recommendations regarding the application of reproduction control strategies within shelter and rehoming environments, recognising the diversity of contexts that exist internationally.

Recognising that the clinical techniques are already described within the existing Guidelines, this section will focus on the practical application of those techniques within shelter medicine.

Topics may include:

• surgical reproduction control;
• non-surgical reproduction control;
• paediatric sterilisation;
• ethical decision-making around timing/type of reproductive control in the shelter/rehoming context;
• euthanasia within shelter population management;
• operational considerations affecting implementation. 

4. Principles of Reproduction Control in Free-Roaming Dog and Cat Populations

The Working Group will consider the role of reproduction control and its strategies applicable to free-roaming populations, recognising the diversity of contexts that exist internationally. For the purpose of this consensus paper, free-roaming populations include:

• owned roaming animals;
• lost or stray owned animals;
• unowned animals;
• community-owned or community-managed animals.

Topics may include:

• surgical reproduction control;
• non-surgical reproduction control;
• paediatric sterilisation;
• population management approaches, including discussion of culling within relevant ethical, legislative and evidence-informed contexts.

This section will contextualise and expand upon, rather than duplicate the existing WSAVA Guidelines.

5. Consensus Recommendations for Companion Animal Population Management

The final section of the consensus paper will synthesise the multidisciplinary-evidence presented throughout the document into a series of multidisciplinary consensus recommendations.

These recommendations should:

• reflect the collective expertise of the Working Group;
• identify areas where broad consensus has been achieved;
• acknowledge areas where multidisciplinary-evidence remains limited or differing professional opinions continue to exist;
• provide practical, globally relevant recommendations capable of informing veterinary practice across diverse settings, underpinned by appropriate evidence/theoretical frameworks.