d'Ingeo Serenella, Ferlisi Gabriele, Minunno Michele, Palmisano Giovanni L, Ventriglia Gianluca, Siniscalchi Marcello, Quaranta Angelo
Animal Physiology and Behavior Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy.
Tree of Life Psychological Centre, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Vet Sci. 2022 Mar 21;9(3):145. doi: 10.3390/vetsci9030145.
Human-dog interactions have a positive effect on human sociality and health. The relationship with dogs helps humans to cope with stress during an emotionally challenging period, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, a growing global interest in pets has been registered, including the volunteering for shelter/stray dog protection. However, a considerable increase of human dysfunctional interventions toward dogs has been observed in Southern Italy. In this study, we investigated the psychological characteristics of humans volunteering at animal shelter or engaged in stray dog protection. The effect of psychological training and education about dog ethological needs on volunteers' helping behavior was also analyzed. We report that the intervention can improve volunteers' physiological features and, consequently, may enhance human management and dog welfare.
人与狗的互动对人类社交和健康有积极影响。与狗的关系有助于人类在情感挑战期（如新冠疫情期间）应对压力。在此期间，全球对宠物的兴趣不断增加，包括参与流浪狗保护的志愿活动。然而，在意大利南部，人们对狗的功能失调干预行为显著增加。在本研究中，我们调查了在动物收容所做志愿者或参与流浪狗保护的人的心理特征。还分析了关于狗的行为学需求的心理培训和教育对志愿者帮助行为的影响。我们报告称，这种干预可以改善志愿者的生理特征，从而可能加强对人的管理并提升狗的福利。
