Abandonment of Dogs and Cats: Public Opinions as Population Management Indicators |
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| Authors: | Oswaldo Santos Baquero Evelyn Nestori Chiozzotto Rita de Cassia Maria Garcia Marcos Amaku Fernando Ferreira |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil;2. Technical Institute of Education and Animal Control, S?o Paulo, Braziloswaldosant@gmail.com;4. Technical Institute of Education and Animal Control, S?o Paulo, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | This study involved characterizing public opinions on selected issues related to the abandonment of dogs and cats in Votorantim, São Paulo, Brazil. This goal was achieved by applying multiple correspondence analysis to answers recorded in questionnaires of a population-based survey. The results suggest that the tolerance of potentially problematic behaviors did not depend on the specific kind of behavior, at least among the behaviors evaluated. The opinions given for the most frequent fate of the companion animals did not depend on the species, and those who considered abandonment to be one of the most frequent fates tended to also consider abandonment as a solution to problematic behaviors. The provision of reasons for abandonment was more frequent among interviewees who considered abandonment as one of the more common fates of nonhuman animals and as a solution to problematic behaviors. Population management interventions should be reflected in public opinion, so the public opinion characteristics that were found can be used as indicators of changes generated by such interventions. |
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| Keywords: | Dog abandonment behavior population management |
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