Dias Costa Esther, Martins Camila Marinelli, Cunha Graziela Ribeiro, Catapan Dariane Cristina, Ferreira Fernando, Oliveira Simone Tostes, Garcia Rita de Cassia Maria, Biondo Alexander Welker
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 80035-050, Brazil.
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil.
Prev Vet Med. 2017 Apr 1;139(Pt A):33-41. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 5.
Although pet population management programs have been established worldwide, few reports on program evaluation have been carried out to date. Accordingly, a 3-year longitudinal study has been carried out in a 4000 household neighborhood located within the metropolitan area of Curitiba, the eighth most populated city of Brazil. Visits were conducted and questionnaires completed to estimate and characterize the local pet population (animal sex, reproductive and vaccination status, street access). Care provided by owners, community perception on stray dog management and the possible changes were compared in these variables over time (2010 and 2013) were evaluated, after the establishment of a city pet population management program. In addition, associations between having children, owning dogs and cats, responsible pet ownership education and owner's perception on stray dogs were statistically tested. A total of 354/4000 (8.9%) household families were interviewed in 2010 and 70/354 (19.8%) of the same families again in 2013. No significant changes were found in overall number of dogs and cats and average pet age, animal care and owner's perception on stray dogs following the 3-year population management program. In 2010, an average of 1.6 dogs and 0.3 cats were found per family, with slightly more females (51.3% dogs and 51.1% cats), adults (4.0±3.5years for dogs and 2.1±2.4 for cats), intact (not neutered; 94.2% dogs and 84.0% cats) and lacking regular visit to veterinarian (71.6%). Although more families (53.1%) had children under 12 years old, no association was found between having children and having dogs and cats. Questionnaires revealed that owners perceived neutering/spaying to be the best pet population control method (42.4%), with "society" (50%) and "government" (49.4%) as responsible for pet population management. A significant positive association has been found between education level and the best way to control stray dogs (p=0.03), between having dogs and in favor of neutering/spaying (p=0.04) and considering neutering/spaying as the best control method (p=0.02). The chances of thinking the best way to control stray dogs by neutering/spaying and adoption were almost 2.0 fold higher than other methods. In conclusion, the present study has provided indicators (education level, having dogs) for pet population control program assessment and effectiveness evaluation. Moreover, this study may serve as a warning on the real long-term effect of such programs, which should be periodically evaluated to identify necessary adjustments and/or improvements.
尽管全球已建立宠物数量管理项目，但迄今为止，关于项目评估的报告却很少。因此，在巴西人口第八多的库里蒂巴大都市区内一个有4000户家庭的社区开展了一项为期3年的纵向研究。研究人员进行了走访并完成了问卷调查，以估计和描述当地宠物数量（动物性别、生殖和疫苗接种状况、是否能上街）。在城市宠物数量管理项目建立后，对主人提供的照料、社区对流浪狗管理的看法以及这些变量随时间（2010年和2013年）的可能变化进行了评估。此外，还对有孩子、养狗和养猫、负责任的宠物饲养教育与主人对流浪狗的看法之间的关联进行了统计学检验。2010年共对354/4000（8.9%）户家庭进行了访谈，2013年又对其中70/354（19.8%）户相同家庭进行了访谈。在为期3年的数量管理项目实施后，狗和猫的总数、宠物平均年龄、动物照料以及主人对流浪狗的看法均未发现显著变化。2010年，每户家庭平均有1.6只狗和0.3只猫，雌性略多（狗为51.3%，猫为51.1%），成年动物居多（狗为4.0±3.5岁，猫为2.1±2.4岁），未绝育（94.2%的狗和84.0%的猫）且缺乏定期看兽医的情况（71.6%）。尽管更多家庭（53.1%）有12岁以下的孩子，但有孩子与养狗和养猫之间未发现关联。问卷调查显示，主人认为绝育/去势是控制宠物数量的最佳方法（42.4%），认为“社会”（50%）和“政府”（49.4%）应对宠物数量管理负责。教育水平与控制流浪狗的最佳方式之间（p=0.03）、养狗与支持绝育/去势之间（p=0.04）以及认为绝育/去势是最佳控制方法之间（p=0.02）均存在显著正相关。认为通过绝育/去势和收养来控制流浪狗的最佳方式的可能性几乎比其他方法高2.0倍。总之，本研究为宠物数量控制项目评估和效果评估提供了指标（教育水平、养狗情况）。此外，本研究可能对这类项目的实际长期效果起到警示作用，应定期对其进行评估，以确定必要的调整和/或改进。
