Burleigh A, McMahon S, Kiely S
Aboriginal Community Veterinary Services, Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia.
Aust Vet J. 2015 May;93(5):145-50. doi: 10.1111/avj.12321.
To determine the population of owned dogs and cats in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (NT), and compare the data with those for the average Australian household.
Results of 20 Indigenous community animal health programs were analysed for species present and dog and cat numbers. The female breeding and puppy populations were also identified.
The average dog population density was significantly higher than the average Australian household, with an average of 24.4 dogs per 10 households, but the average cat population density was similar (3.3 cats per 10 households). Numbers of other species were not determined. The average percentage of puppies in these communities was 17.6% of the treated canine population, the average percentage of breeding canine females was 18.6% of the treated canine population, and the average percentage of breeding feline females was 19.7% of the total feline population.
Dog populations in NT Indigenous communities were at least 6.3-fold higher per household compared with data for the rest of Australia. Cat populations per household were similar to the overall population. Factors contributing to the relatively high dog populations in remote Indigenous communities include a lack of veterinary presence, community remoteness, poor socioeconomic factors, poor house and yard designs, cultural reasons, communal beliefs, lack of community animal management and a lack of funding. We believe that animal health programs are an important way of addressing a number of these issues. Other elements that should be addressed include improving house and yard design, increasing education regarding animal health, care and welfare, and increasing the training and presence of health and animal professionals.
确定北领地（NT）原住民社区中宠物狗和宠物猫的数量，并将数据与澳大利亚普通家庭的数据进行比较。
分析了20个原住民社区动物健康项目中有关动物种类、狗和猫数量的结果。还确定了母犬繁殖数量和幼犬数量。
狗的平均种群密度显著高于澳大利亚普通家庭，平均每10户有24.4只狗，但猫的平均种群密度与之相似（每10户有3.3只猫）。未确定其他物种的数量。这些社区中幼犬的平均比例占接受治疗犬只总数的17.6%，繁殖母犬的平均比例占接受治疗犬只总数的18.6%，繁殖母猫的平均比例占猫总数量的19.7%。
与澳大利亚其他地区的数据相比，北领地原住民社区每户的狗数量至少高出6.3倍。每户的猫数量与总体人口相似。导致偏远原住民社区狗数量相对较多的因素包括缺乏兽医服务、社区偏远、社会经济因素差、房屋和院子设计不佳、文化原因、共同信仰、缺乏社区动物管理以及缺乏资金。我们认为动物健康项目是解决其中一些问题的重要途径。其他应解决的因素包括改善房屋和院子设计、加强动物健康、护理和福利方面的教育，以及增加健康和动物专业人员的培训和配备。
