Beckman Magnus, Hill Kate E, Farnworth Mark J, Bolwell Charlotte F, Bridges Janis, Acke Els
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Domestic Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Animals (Basel). 2014 Sep 29;4(4):599-611. doi: 10.3390/ani4040599.
A study was undertaken to establish how visiting tourists to Samoa perceived free-roaming dogs (Canis familiaris) and their management, additionally some factors that influence their perceptions were assessed. Questionnaires were administered to 281 tourists across Samoa over 5 weeks. Free-roaming dogs were seen by 98.2% (n = 269/274) of respondents, with 64.9% (n = 137/211) reporting that their presence had a negative effect on overall holiday experience. Respondents staying in the Apia (capital city) area were more likely to consider dogs a problem (p < 0.0001), and there was a significant association between whether the respondent owned a dog and if they thought dogs were a nuisance in Samoa (p < 0.003). Forty-four percent (20/89) of non-dog owners agreed that dogs were a nuisance compared to 22% (80/182) of dog owners. The majority felt that dogs required better control and management in Samoa (81%, n = 222) and that there were too many "stray" dogs (67.9%, n = 188). More respondents were negatively affected by the dogs' presence (64.9%, 137/211), and felt that the dogs made their holiday worse, than respondents that felt the dogs' presence improved their holiday experience (35.1%, 74/211). Most respondents stated that the dogs had a low impact (one to three; 68%, 187/275) on their stay in Samoa, whilst 24% (65/275) and 8% (23/275) stated they had a medium or high impact, respectively, on their stay. Respondents showed strong support for humane population management. Free-roaming dogs present a complex problem for Samoa and for its tourism industry in particular. The findings of this study further support the need for more discussion and action about the provision of veterinary services and population management for dogs in Samoa. It also provides information complementing an earlier study of the attitudes of local Samoans.
开展了一项研究，以确定前往萨摩亚的游客如何看待散养犬（家犬）及其管理情况，此外还评估了一些影响他们看法的因素。在5周时间里，对萨摩亚各地的281名游客进行了问卷调查。98.2%（n = 269/274）的受访者看到了散养犬，其中64.9%（n = 137/211）报告称这些犬的存在对他们的整体假期体验产生了负面影响。住在阿皮亚（首都）地区的受访者更有可能认为犬是个问题（p < 0.0001），并且受访者是否拥有犬与他们是否认为萨摩亚的犬很讨厌之间存在显著关联（p < 0.003）。44%（20/89）的非犬主认为犬很讨厌，而犬主中这一比例为22%（80/182）。大多数人认为萨摩亚的犬需要更好的管控（81%，n = 222），并且“流浪”犬太多了（67.9%，n = 188）。与认为犬的存在改善了假期体验的受访者（35.1%，74/211）相比，更多受访者受到犬的存在的负面影响（64.9%，137/211），并觉得犬让他们的假期变差了。大多数受访者表示犬对他们在萨摩亚的停留影响较小（一到三级；68%，187/275），而24%（65/275）和8%（23/275）的受访者分别表示犬对他们的停留有中等或较大影响。受访者对人道的犬口管理表示强烈支持。散养犬给萨摩亚尤其是其旅游业带来了一个复杂的问题。本研究结果进一步支持了有必要就萨摩亚犬的兽医服务提供和犬口管理进行更多讨论并采取行动。它还提供了补充早期关于当地萨摩亚人态度研究的信息。
