American Strays Canine Survey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) Partners with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to Launch Interactive Story Maps Documenting San Antonio’s Street Pets Using Dual-Species Surveys
SAN ANTONIO, TX — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S) has announced a multi-year research partnership under an agreement with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to co-publish a series of interactive, data-driven "Story Maps" documenting free-roaming dogs and cats across San Antonio, Texas.
Evolving from its foundational canine focus into a dual-species framework under the American Strays 2030 Project, the initiative utilizes the WA2S Street Pet Survey Methodology to establish an empirical, block-by-block population baseline for both free-roaming canines and felines across urban sectors.
Mapping the Human-Pet Dynamic Through Empirical Data By combining WA2S’s extensive visual media library, windshield survey tracking, and sight-resight ecological modeling with UAB’s academic expertise in geospatial technology and spatial analytics, the project translates raw field telemetry into multi-layered Geographic Information System (GIS) models, spatial density heat maps, and public interactive Story Maps.
Story maps are web-based applications that integrate high-resolution spatial mapping with narrative text, 360-degree 5K video auditing, high-definition cinematography, and interactive data points. Integrated with the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model, the project maps neighborhood assets, identifies resource deserts (such as gaps in veterinary access and spay/neuter services), and tracks animal movement patterns directly within the PetNetSA App.
Users will be able to explore stratified classifications for both species—ranging from unowned and owned-roaming dogs to community cat colonies—helping identify vector hot spots, evaluate programmatic spay/neuter and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) efficacy, and support pre-emergency public health monitoring (such as host pool baselines for the New World Screwworm).
"Data is powerful, but it's the human and animal stories behind those data points that drive sustainable change," says Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "Partnering with the UAB GIS Lab allows us to give our observational media and dual-species field telemetry a robust geospatial backbone. By replacing speculative estimations with an empirical, auditable baseline, we are creating a living map of San Antonio's street pet ecosystem to help inform municipal policy and community-led interventions."
A Convergence of Media, Field Science, and Geospatial AnalyticsThe collaboration leverages UAB’s spatial analysis capabilities to process raw GPS tracking logs (collected via tools like OSMTracker and the Talea Street Survey App), 360-degree video audit streams, and aerial thermal drone telemetry gathered during WA2S field runs.
By layering socioeconomic factors, neighborhood resource nodes, shelter intake statistics, and direct field sightings, the interactive maps illustrate the relationships between urban development and free-roaming animal dynamics.
Key Features of the Upcoming Story Maps:
Dr. Shelly A. McGrath graduated from Saint Mary's College, South Bend, Indiana, with a B.A. in sociology and communications. She earned an M.A. in sociology and an M.A. in political science from Ball State University and her Ph.D. in sociology with an emphasis in criminology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She is an associate professor in the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. McGrath's current research interests include domestic violence, interpersonal violence, animal abuse, and wrongful convictions. She has published articles in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Deviant Behavior, Victims and Offenders, American Journal of Criminal Justice, and Aggression and Violent Behavior. She has also taught numerous courses in the department, including Crime and Criminality, Introductory Statistics, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, Women and Crime, Corrections America: Overview, and Juvenile Delinquency.
She has also devoted her time to animal welfare. As a graduate student in Carbondale, IL she began rescuing feral cats that eventually moved to Birmingham, AL with her. She has participated in volunteer work with the local humane society by being a dog walker, foster, and at vaccine clinics. She and her son also rescue homeless or abandoned cats that they find. Her passion has always been animal rescue and anti animal cruelty and she is now merging her lifelong passion with her research.
World Animal Awareness Society
Contact: Eugene Thomas, Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Website: WA2S.org
SAN ANTONIO, TX — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S) has announced a multi-year research partnership under an agreement with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to co-publish a series of interactive, data-driven "Story Maps" documenting free-roaming dogs and cats across San Antonio, Texas.
Evolving from its foundational canine focus into a dual-species framework under the American Strays 2030 Project, the initiative utilizes the WA2S Street Pet Survey Methodology to establish an empirical, block-by-block population baseline for both free-roaming canines and felines across urban sectors.
Mapping the Human-Pet Dynamic Through Empirical Data By combining WA2S’s extensive visual media library, windshield survey tracking, and sight-resight ecological modeling with UAB’s academic expertise in geospatial technology and spatial analytics, the project translates raw field telemetry into multi-layered Geographic Information System (GIS) models, spatial density heat maps, and public interactive Story Maps.
Story maps are web-based applications that integrate high-resolution spatial mapping with narrative text, 360-degree 5K video auditing, high-definition cinematography, and interactive data points. Integrated with the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model, the project maps neighborhood assets, identifies resource deserts (such as gaps in veterinary access and spay/neuter services), and tracks animal movement patterns directly within the PetNetSA App.
Users will be able to explore stratified classifications for both species—ranging from unowned and owned-roaming dogs to community cat colonies—helping identify vector hot spots, evaluate programmatic spay/neuter and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) efficacy, and support pre-emergency public health monitoring (such as host pool baselines for the New World Screwworm).
"Data is powerful, but it's the human and animal stories behind those data points that drive sustainable change," says Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "Partnering with the UAB GIS Lab allows us to give our observational media and dual-species field telemetry a robust geospatial backbone. By replacing speculative estimations with an empirical, auditable baseline, we are creating a living map of San Antonio's street pet ecosystem to help inform municipal policy and community-led interventions."
A Convergence of Media, Field Science, and Geospatial AnalyticsThe collaboration leverages UAB’s spatial analysis capabilities to process raw GPS tracking logs (collected via tools like OSMTracker and the Talea Street Survey App), 360-degree video audit streams, and aerial thermal drone telemetry gathered during WA2S field runs.
By layering socioeconomic factors, neighborhood resource nodes, shelter intake statistics, and direct field sightings, the interactive maps illustrate the relationships between urban development and free-roaming animal dynamics.
Key Features of the Upcoming Story Maps:
- Dual-Species Sight-Resight Tracking: Empirical, block-by-block population modeling covering both free-roaming dog and cat populations across San Antonio corridors.
- Stratified Classification & Resource Layering: Granular tracking of stray, community, and owned-roaming animals alongside local resources to help target mobile spay/neuter clinics, TNVR efforts, and food distribution.
- Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Integration: Incorporating intelligence from local block leaders, feeding caretakers, and frontline rescue networks to map congregation nodes and hidden denning areas.
- Immutable Visual Auditing: Embedded 360-degree 5K video footage, high-definition documentary segments from WA2S, and aerial thermal telemetry to verify observational data.
- Advocacy & Policy Dashboards: Actionable portals for local rescues, municipal animal care services, and national organizations to guide targeted field operations and evidence-based policy pitches through the PetNetSA App.
Dr. Shelly A. McGrath graduated from Saint Mary's College, South Bend, Indiana, with a B.A. in sociology and communications. She earned an M.A. in sociology and an M.A. in political science from Ball State University and her Ph.D. in sociology with an emphasis in criminology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She is an associate professor in the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. McGrath's current research interests include domestic violence, interpersonal violence, animal abuse, and wrongful convictions. She has published articles in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Deviant Behavior, Victims and Offenders, American Journal of Criminal Justice, and Aggression and Violent Behavior. She has also taught numerous courses in the department, including Crime and Criminality, Introductory Statistics, Research Methods in Criminal Justice, Women and Crime, Corrections America: Overview, and Juvenile Delinquency.
She has also devoted her time to animal welfare. As a graduate student in Carbondale, IL she began rescuing feral cats that eventually moved to Birmingham, AL with her. She has participated in volunteer work with the local humane society by being a dog walker, foster, and at vaccine clinics. She and her son also rescue homeless or abandoned cats that they find. Her passion has always been animal rescue and anti animal cruelty and she is now merging her lifelong passion with her research.
World Animal Awareness Society
Contact: Eugene Thomas, Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Website: WA2S.org
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The World Animal Awareness Society believes that responsibility for dog population management resides with local and / or federal government. Animal welfare NGOs should not be encouraged to take on the authority’s overall responsibility for dog population management other than through a contractual agreement, and with appropriate funding and resources. However, animal welfare NGOs play an important role in guiding and supporting government strategy, so it is important for such organizations to have an understanding of all the components of a comprehensive strategy. This will enable each local authority to target their support where it can be most effective and to make the best use of limited resources.
The following criteria are considered when a city is chosen to be surveyed: - Large Urban / City Space - High Instance of Dog Bites - Roaming or Loose Dogs - Known Dog Fighting - Low Spay & Neuter # - Backyard Dog Breeding - Multiple Authorized Agents - Frequent Abuse Reports - Frequent Neglect Reports - General Media Awareness - Social Media Awareness - Increase in Animal NGO’s - High Surrender to Shelter
AMERICAN STRAYS - A COUNT OF STRAY DOGS IN AMERICA!
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The 1st American Strays Canine Survey took place Saturday & Sunday September 21 & 22, 2013 in the city of Detroit.
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The 2013 American Strays Canine Survey Poster and some images from the old method of surveying dogs from 2013.
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During the inaugural American Strays Canine Survey that took place in Detroit, MI over the weekend of September 21 & 22, 2013, volunteer citizen scientists (Observers) used tracking software to track their movements. OSMTracker, a free app for Droid, was used to create this map.
OSMTracker allows the observer to record their tracks and include various media (photos, audio, notes) which is embedded (geo-tagged) into the overall track as way-points. This data is analyzed and used to reconcile the random points the observer looks for within each region as well as have an accurate location for each Dog spotted. |
The World Animal Awareness Society science team is using new digital tools during the stray Dog survey portion of this study to measure the "free-roaming" dog population In the fall of 2013. Dozens of teams of volunteers will be led in a two day survey using inexpensive - to free handheld technologies to monitor 1 of 42 regions of Detroit for stray dogs. These volunteers will receive training before the survey day in the smartphone applications that are being used and the data from the smartphone will be received upon the discovery of each dog. Some of the technology being used is shown in the images to the left and below.
OSMTracker: records all locational information of a user directly to one database on a second by second basis. Data collectors and users, to ensure correct census location, will monitor the grid system set in place during the census on OSM maps. OSM will transmit location at all times, and more specifically provide coordinates anytime a user takes a photo, video, or voice recording.
DogDensity Database*: the details of the routes and surveys are recorded in the storage area from the OSMTracker information. This database will store and organize the data and be accessible to future organizations as a template for the census.
DogDensity Database*: the details of the routes and surveys are recorded in the storage area from the OSMTracker information. This database will store and organize the data and be accessible to future organizations as a template for the census.
