Strays, surrenders and foster care: examining New Zealand’s cat rescue landscape

New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 10

Published: March 20, 2025

Aims To describe the current capacity, resource limitations and challenges of cat kitten rescue organisations (CKR) in New Zealand; to document source destination animals cared for; explore role foster programmes rehoming Zealand.

Language: Английский

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Rethinking Urban Cat Management—Limitations and Unintended Consequences of Traditional Cat Management

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. 1005 - 1005

Published: March 31, 2025

Traditional methods for managing free-roaming cats in Australia primarily depend on legislation and enforcement to achieve compliance. State laws local regulations mandate confinement, sterilization, registration, identification limit the number of kept, with penalties breaches. However, these strategies fail address underlying issues like financial constraints low-income areas prevalence semi-owned cats. Containment mandates often result increased complaints, shelter intake, euthanasia, without effectively reducing cat-related problems. Research shows that approaches are expensive, difficult enforce, place a disproportionate burden disadvantaged communities. Moreover, they negatively affect mental health staff animal management officers, who frequently exposed euthanasia ongoing challenges. An alternative "One Welfare" framework, which recognizes interconnectedness animal, human, environmental welfare, has proven more effective. Programs provide support resources, particularly cat sterilization microchipping, while fostering human-animal bond improve outcomes both caregivers. Shifting from punitive measures collaborative, community-driven is crucial way benefits animals, people, broader community, protecting wildlife.

Language: Английский

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Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(10), P. 5801 - 5801

Published: May 12, 2023

Dogs may provide humans with a range of physical, mental and social benefits. Whilst there is growing scientific evidence benefits to humans, has been less focus on the impact canine health, welfare ethical considerations for dogs. The importance animal increasingly acknowledged, indicating that Ottawa Charter should be extended include non-human animals supporting promotion human health. Therapy dog programmes are delivered across variety settings including hospitals, aged care facilities health services, highlighting important role they play in outcomes. Research shown biomarkers stress other engaged human-animal interactions. This review aims assess interactions therapy dogs providing support While challenging, it paramount ensure that, within framework One Welfare, included, as key factor future sustainability. We identified concerns due lack guidelines standards protect wellbeing these programmes. Extension leveraging through Welfare approach would promote beyond current boundaries.

Language: Английский

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Characteristics of cat semi-owners

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 25(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Objectives Unowned ‘stray’ domestic cats threaten wildlife, as well create a community nuisance and contribute to high rates of euthanasia in animal shelters. These can experience poor welfare, the pet cat population compromise attempts control feral cats. However, many unowned are cared for by semi-owners who do not consider they own these cats; therefore, potentially important target human behaviour change interventions. The present study aimed describe characteristics compare with general owners non-cat inform future management Methods An online questionnaire open all residents New South Wales, Australia was developed advertised. Respondents were asked ‘do you care other free-roaming or stray (not including own)?’, whether owned cats, about their home agreement 15 capability, social opportunity motivation (COM) items relating containment. Results Questionnaire responses received from 8708 people, 588 (7%). Semi-owners significantly more likely be female, live urban areas, lower socioeconomic areas rent home. Most also than non-semi-owners. Conclusions relevance valuable potential audience Understanding that often have might already overwhelmed cat-caring responsibilities disproportionately backgrounds should guide intervention design. A nuanced approach is needed prioritises wellbeing ‘buy in’. Any recognise face multiple, complex barriers neutering claiming ownership for, especially cost, trust authorities.

Language: Английский

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Willingness to pay for the welfare of stray companion animals in Greece

Revista Veterinaria, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 36(1), P. 1 - 13

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

This article is a contingent valuation study that investigates the willingness to pay for welfare of stray dogs and cats in Greece managed by municipalities. The main research question was whether individuals would be willing how much support their municipalities managing animals. An online survey collected responses from across Greece. After analyzing data, certain sociodemographic characteristics respondents were identified. Most are urban residents who highly concerned about issue companion animals country. Using Stata 14, model showed 63% participants (250 individuals) contribute financially. Key factors influencing this include respondents’ age, donation history, consideration adopting an animal future. average amount €9.18.

Language: Английский

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New 28-Item and 12-Item Dog Owner Relationship Scales: Contemporary Versions of the MDORS with a Revised Four-Component Structure

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 632 - 632

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Numerous scales have been developed to assess pet-owner relationship quality. One commonly used measure is the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) and its various derivatives. Since this scale was published in 2006, many social changes occurred, necessitating a review and, if necessary, refinement of measure. We sought investigate internal consistency structure existing instrument, as well an expanded modified version scale, contemporary adult sample over 350 adults, recruited be potentially less dog-centric than previous samples. The three-factor MDORS appeared reasonably sound, but Principal Components Analysis with items resulted identification four-component structure. Two components approximated measures: Perceived Costs Ownership owner's Emotional Reliance on their pet. Rather replicating Pet Interaction subscale, however, we identified two different types engagement: Affectionate Engagement Active Engagement. subscale scores total score were, expected, intercorrelated each other Lexington Attachment Pets Scale. Perhaps surprisingly, they were statistically associated very few demographic variables, such owner gender, age, education, or residence location, rarely dog variables sex, source. This may speak current near-universality strong human-dog relationships, which propose can now assessed using new 28 (DORS28) shortened version, 12 (DORS12).

Language: Английский

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Exploring Social Determinants of Health in Veterinary Technology: A Workshop Approach to Enhancing Companion Animal Welfare and Student Awareness

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 12, 2025

Incorporating social determinants of health (SDH) into veterinary education is essential for preparing students to address companion animal welfare comprehensively. This teaching tip describes a yearly workshop conducted with technology explore how SDH factors influence guardians, and the clinical decisions made by professionals. The emphasized key communication skills addressed student biases. Consideration creative support options care were included, integrating spectrum-of-care conceptualizations. Informal feedback revealed many found impactful in enhancing their awareness complexities surrounding welfare.

Language: Английский

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The impacts of household factors and proxies of human social determinants of health on dog behavior

Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 239, P. 106520 - 106520

Published: March 30, 2025

Social determinants of health (SDOH) have an enormous impact on human and behavior, although their possible effects canine behavior received limited scientific attention. The goals this observational cohort study were to identify associations between household environments, zip code-level proxies for SDOH, explore longitudinal impacts behavior. We used existing dataset C-BARQ behavioral assessments from 3044 golden retrievers in the United States, including up eight years data per dog collected 2012 2023. analyzed using linear mixed effect models generalized estimating equations. found dogs single-dog homes had increased odds dog-directed fear (OR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.30-1.61) poorer trainability, particularly during early adulthood (F=14.32, p < 0.001). Sleeping owners' bed was associated with aggression towards strangers, a greater reduction trainability (F=20.71, 0.001) energy age (F=8.20, = 0.004). Dogs most densely populated neighborhoods showing strangers compared sparsely 0.78, 0.63-0.95) or moderately 0.73, 0.60-0.90). Together, our findings illustrate how conspecific relationships, interactions, home neighborhood environments affect show, first time, that characteristics ownership behaviors differential across lifespan. Future studies more diverse populations are needed provide further insights about SDOH welfare.

Language: Английский

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Urban Cat Management in Australia—Evidence-Based Strategies for Success

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. 1083 - 1083

Published: April 9, 2025

Urban free-roaming cats present challenges like noise, urination, defecation, property damage, public health risks, and wildlife predation. Traditional enforcement methods, such as containment laws impounding, are ineffective, especially in low-income areas, where many live. These often cared for by “semi-owners”, who feed them without formal ownership. Financial barriers to sterilization owned semi-owned these areas result unplanned litters, sustaining the population burdening local authorities animal welfare organizations. Cats causing complaints frequently impounded euthanized, affecting mental of veterinary, shelter, council staff. This paper critiques punitive, compliance-driven strategies highlights success assistive Community Cat Programs offering free sterilization, microchipping, registration. In Banyule, Victoria, a program reduced cat impoundments 66%, euthanasia 82%, 36% between 2013 2021. Two other programs large cities rural towns NSW town Queensland have now reported similar results. Based on One Welfare framework, address interconnectedness welfare, human well-being, environmental health. By removing financial barriers, they build trust caregivers, improving compliance cats, communities, wildlife. However, following loss key staff reintroduction intake rose 140% 2022 2024, demonstrating detrimental impact punitive approaches. underscores importance sustained, community-based solutions legislative reforms that prioritize humane, barrier-free strategies. Understanding critical factors is essential effective management.

Language: Английский

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Artificial intelligence in veterinary and animal science: applications, challenges, and future prospects

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 235, P. 110395 - 110395

Published: April 16, 2025

Language: Английский

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