A Fractional-Order Mathematical Model to Analyze the Stability and Develop a Sterilization Strategy for the Habitat of Stray Dogs

Abstract

Today, the socio-cultural lack of some countries with increased urbanization has led to the unconscious breeding of stray dogs. The failure to care for the offspring of possessive dogs or ignoring the responsibility to find a suitable family for the offspring increased the dog population on the streets and in the shelters. In this study, our main target is to analyze the habitat of stray dogs and the strategy of how to control the population without damaging the ecosystem of the species. For this aim, we establish a fractional-order differential equation system to investigate the fractal dimension with long-term memory that invovles two compartments; the non-sterilized dog population (x(t)) and the sterilized one (y(t)). Firstly, we analyze the stability of the equilibrium points using the Routh-Hurwitz criteria to discuss cases that should not affect the ecosystem of the dog population, but control the stray dog population in the habitat. Since the intervention to the stray dog population occurs at discrete time impulses, we use the Euler method's discretization process to analyse the local and global stability around the equilibrium points. Besides this, we show that the solutions of the system represent semi-cycle behaviors. At the end of the study, we use accurate data to demonstrate the sterilization rate of stray dogs in their habitat.