Vienna, 03 April 2025 – Over 200 million dogs and even more cats live as stray animals around the globe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Many of them suffer under the hardships of the streets, get brutally killed or are locked up in overcrowded shelters. Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS strongly condemns the killing and mass sheltering of stray animals. These inhumane, costly and ineffective methods cause tremendous suffering. In the wake of World Stray Animal Day on 4 April, FOUR PAWS advocates for the use of the CNVR (Catch – Neuter – Vaccinate – Return) approach to sustainably and humanely manage stray populations and provide much needed help globally. In 2024, FOUR PAWS provided veterinary help to more than 30,000 dogs and cats in ten countries, including neutering, rabies vaccinations and other medical treatments.

To help stray animals in need, FOUR PAWS together with local partners, conducts free neutering campaigns and supports authorities, communities, and shelters with expertise.

CNVR – four steps to help stray animals and communities alike

FOUR PAWS urges authorities across the world to support local CNVR campaigns to sustainably and humanely manage their local stray populations. Four essential steps are taken in this animal-friendly method:

• C – Catch: The stray cats and dogs are caught by specially trained experts causing as little stress as possible and brought to a clinic or surgical station for treatment.
• N – Neuter: Neutering is a permanent treatment to ensure cats or dogs can no longer reproduce. Additionally, benefits are that females are no longer at risk of developing life-threatening uterine infections and males benefit from a significant reduction in their reproductive hormones, resulting in less fighting or roaming.
• V – Vaccinate: Vaccinating stray animals helps reduce the risk of diseases like rabies and can protect animals and people alike.
• R – Return: After a successful treatment and recovery, the animals are returned to their territory. To signal that they have been treated, dogs are marked with an ear tag, the ears of cats are tipped or tattooed.

Story of dog Tropcho – a Bulgarian stray rescued from the streets

Teams of FOUR PAWS are active across Eastern Europe, South Africa and Southeast Asia to alleviate the suffering of stray cats and dogs. Some are living through massive hardships on the streets. One of them is dog Tropcho, who was hit by a car when four months old and seriously injured. Witnesses of the accident brought the young puppy to the FOUR PAWS clinic in Bankya near the Bulgarian capital in summer 2023, where the team fought for his life. After three days in a coma, Tropcho woke up. What followed was a long way of recovery. At first, the male dog could not even sit up, kept losing his balance and had difficulties to walk. One year later and thanks to the loving care of the team, Tropcho was able to recover and is now a playful, curious dog, who even found a new home.