DogTracker: A Mobile App Engaging Citizens and Officials in Addressing the Stray Dog Crisis

There are hundreds of millions of stray dogs roaming the streets all over the world. These dogs are seen by some as scourges and by others as objects of pity. Roving dogs have mauled humans and spread rabies, and stray dogs have also been the victims of brutal human campaigns to cull their numbers. Any effective intervention in the stray dog problem must address the human role in the crisis. I propose a mobile app, called DogTracker, that allows citizens and animal control officials to report sightings of stray dogs. Creating, mapping, and accessing these reports will help officials estimate the size and characteristics of the stray dog population, target humane population and disease control interventions, and identify communities in which to conduct public education. DogTracker can also provide information for citizens on movements of dogs and help citizens keep themselves and their communities safe from dangerous packs.