Dogs welfare in Slovenian and Croatian shelters

Weitzer, Maruša (author), Zupan Šemrov, Manja (mentor)

The importance of the welfare of dogs housed in shelters has increased due to society's great interest in abandoned, lost or stray dogs. Using the Welfare Quality Protocol for Shelter Dogs (SQP), we studied 16 shelters in Slovenia and Croatia. This study represents the first assessment in this region. We assessed the physical, emotional, and pen-related welfare indicators of 503 individual dogs. We also collected management data on feeding, exercise, available skilled personnel, and veterinary care. The data collected not only provided a basis for future assessments, but also provided insight into the impact that a shelter environment has on a housed animal. It was found that the welfare of shelter dogs in Slovenia and Croatia is generally satisfactory. Good management practices resulted in good health (diarrhea, coughing, wounds and lameness were noted only to minor extent), and most dogs were in good physical condition, and exhibited no undesirable behaviors or abnormalities. Most shelters met the minimum requirements for living conditions, including the absence of sharp edges and unsafe equipment. Emotional profile assessment indicated potential constraints and negative effects on animal welfare, such as inadequate space leading to less playful, happy, and friendly behavior. Another important finding is that dogs fed once a day showed attention-seeking and insecure behavior and barked more often, while dogs fed twice a day were more confident and relaxed.

• Language: English
• Keywords: dogs, shelters, welfare
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2022
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-140880
• COBISS.SI-ID: 124089347
• Publication date in RUL: 21.09.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Dobrobit psov v slovenskih in hrvaških zavetiščih

Abstract

Dobrobit psov v zavetiščih pridobiva na pomenu, saj se družba vse bolj zanima za počutje izgubljenih, zapuščenih in potepuških psov. Po načelih protokola (Shelter Quality Protocol for sheltered dogs) smo ocenili skupno 16 zavetišč na območju Slovenije in Hrvaške. Ocenjevali smo fizikalne, vedenjske in okoljske indikatorje dobrobiti. Individualno smo ocenili 503 pse. Dodatno smo pridobili logistične podatke o hranjenju, zunanjih aktivnostih, osebju in veterinarski oskrbi. Študija je prva na tem geografskem območju; hkrati služi za osnovo za bodoče raziskave in izpostavlja vplive, ki jih ima okolje v zavetišču na žival. Rezultati so pokazali, da je dobrobit psov v slovenskih in hrvaških zavetiščih zadovoljiva. V zavetiščih so bile živali zdrave (driska, kašelj, rane in šepanje so bili zgolj izolirani dogodki), večina živali je bila ustrezne/primerne telesne mase in ni kazala motenj v obnašanju. Večina zavetišč je zadostila minimalnim prostorskim potrebam, vključno z odsotnostjo ostrih robov in druge nevarne opreme v pesjaku. Ocena čustvenega profila psov je nakazala potencialne omejitve in negativne vplive na dobrobit psov. Rezultati prikazujejo, da je nezadostna površina pesjaka vodila v manj igrivega, veselega in prijaznega obnašanja v času ocenjevanja. Dokazali smo, da so psi, hranjeni enkrat na dan, bili bolj nesigurni, pogosteje so lajali in iskali pozornost, medtem ko so psi, hranjeni dvakrat na dan, bili ocenjeni kot samozavestni in sproščeni.

• Keywords: psi, dobrobit, zavetišča