biostudies-literatureUnknown48(3)Montecino-Latorre DWe surveyed professionals from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture working with small-scale farmers to characterize the attacks of free-ranging dogs across Chile. Nationwide, in a single year, free-ranging dogs attacked 25% of the ca. 8500 farms included in the survey, killing or injuring about 10 000 small ruminants. These dogs were ranked as the main cause of animal losses for small-scale farmers, representing a threat to the livelihoods of this vulnerable group. Further, free-ranging dogs attacking small ruminants were considered as human-subsidized, since they would be recruited by irresponsible ownership and abandonment from urban centers. This is the first national assessment reporting that human-subsidized dogs are a main threat to livestock rearing. Policies to control populations Ambio240-250https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6374227biostudies-literatureEvidence supporting that human-subsidized free-ranging dogs are the main cause of animal losses in small-scale farms in Chile.PMC6374227San Martin WMontecino-Latorre DfalseEvidence supporting that human-subsidized free-ranging dogs are the main cause of animal losses in small-scale farms in Chile.We surveyed professionals from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture working with small-scale farmers to characterize the attacks of free-ranging dogs across Chile. Nationwide, in a single year, free-ranging dogs attacked 25% of the ca. 8500 farms included in the survey, killing or injuring about 10 000 small ruminants. These dogs were ranked as the main cause of animal losses for small-scale farmers, representing a threat to the livelihoods of this vulnerable group. Further, free-ranging dogs attacking small ruminants were considered as human-subsidized, since they would be recruited by irresponsible ownership and abandonment from urban centers. This is the first national assessment reporting that human-subsidized dogs are a main threat to livestock rearing. Policies to control populations 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Mar2026-07-16T20:07:16.087Z2020-10-02T07:19:53ZS-EPMC63742272990591410.1007/s13280-018-1066-3