Responsible guardianship of dogs and cats sterilized in a public program according to the collective health perspective

• Published in: Journal of veterinary behavior 2021-11, Vol.46, p.1-6
• Main Authors: Barni, Brunna S., Oliveira, Mariana P., Teixeira, Luciana G., Rigon, Jéferson, Vidor, Silvana B., Gomes, Cristiano, Contesini, Emerson A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal welfare; Companion animals; Zoonosis
• ISSN: 1558-7878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.07.008

Stray dogs and cats are a serious public health problem in many countries. Human attitudes about animals may trigger to this problem. Using a questionnaire, evaluated characteristics of responsible guardianship in association with variables related to collective health and socioeconomic factors concerning the owners of dogs and cats participating in a sterilizing public program in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The questionnaire had questions about the owners and animal care. The answers generated a responsible guardianship score (RGS), which was associated with animal owners’ socioeconomic profile. Higher income and education were associated with a higher RGS. Owners with higher income had higher scores concerning castration, rabies vaccination, and veterinary appointments in the last 12 months. Those with higher education also scored higher with respect to veterinary appointments in the last 12 months and vermifuge administration in the last 6 months. Owners of dogs and cats or dogs, only, had higher scores than cat, only, owners with respect to castration, rabies vaccination, and veterinary appointments in the last 12 months, flea product application in the last six months, collecting animals’ feces on public roads and allowing animals to have free access to the street. Cat owners had lower RGS. The questionnaire determined that socioeconomic factors influence responsible guardianship of dogs and cats sterilized in the public program and demonstrated that there is an intermediate level of responsible guardianship according to the collective health. These data will help to create educational materials for people with low income and education and for all cat owners.