How Many "Free-Roaming" Dogs Live in Your City? Would you be surprised to learn that, until now, NO organization has conducted a true census on the "free-roaming" canine (aka stray) populations in any major City within the United States to accurately define this number on a given day?

The American Strays Research Program is a true census combined with a scientific film study.  A team of volunteers are currently investigating within the 143 square miles that make up the City of Detroit (ongoing through June 2012).

American Strays aims to define the number of stray dogs in each City, profile the organizations actively working with the stray dog population, and assist in the plan to resolve the situation by providing detailed, visual rich information gathered from the entire City.   Upon conclusion of the American Strays program in each City, WA2S will publish census results, develop a television ready program & documentary, and produce video profiles of organizations & members of the community interviewed during this dynamic quantitative film study.

Volunteers will participate under the guidance of experts with the World Animal Awareness Society. WA2S teams will collaborate with animal rescue groups already working with the dog population within the City, such as Michigan Humane Society and Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan. All volunteers will adhere to standardized protocol established by the WA2S that is similar to previously developed techniques for marine, terrestrial or avian population surveys.

WA2S volunteers will not only conduct actual headcounts of "free-roaming" dogs, but also connect with the community to learn more about the existing conditions that may be contributing factors to the "free-roaming" population.  Interviews and survey data will be documented with community residents & businesses, existing animal shelters & rescues, anti-cruelty investigators, as well as City service workers such as the U.S. Postal Service to help the WA2S define the "stray" dog population and how it relates to the community within each City we visit.

The systematic documentation of the "stray" dog population will forever remove opinion and provide substantive data by which rational decisions may be made and funded. The first step in solving the problem is understanding the problem. The stray dog population has existed for quite some time in Detroit and other major cities in the US and the perception, due to economic issues and flight, suggest that it is getting worse. 

Look for this program to be the template by which we roll out a national initiative to more than 20 US cities over the next 5 years.

If you would like to volunteer, are with an organization that is working with "free-roaming"/"stray" dogs within any major population center within the USA, have interest in partnering or providing a grant, please tell us by using our contact form here: http://www.wa2s.org/contact.html

INITIAL PRESS RELEASE --
World Animal Awareness Society Initiates American Strays-Detroit: An Unprecedented Stray Dog Census