1.
stray dog; feral dog; wild dog
A dog living without an owner, roaming freely in the wild or in urban areas. Includes both abandoned domestic dogs and those born in the wild.
公園で野犬を見かけた。
I spotted a stray dog in the park.
この地域では野犬が増えている。
Stray dogs are increasing in this area.
野犬に近づくのは危険なので、見つけたら保健所に連絡してください。
Approaching stray dogs is dangerous, so if you find one, please contact the public health center.
Also sometimes read as のいぬ, though やけん is the standard reading. Common collocations include 野犬狩り (rounding up stray dogs) and 野犬の群れ (a pack of stray dogs). Compare with 野良犬 (stray dog, more colloquial) and 捨て犬 (abandoned dog). In Japan, stray dogs are managed by 保健所 (public health centers) and 動物愛護センター (animal welfare centers).