AIAM Annual Conference on urban animal management
Mercure Hotel
Geelong Victoria
13-16 October 2009
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FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
ATTITUDES OF OWNERS INFLUENCE VARIOUS DOG MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOURS
Ms Vanessa Rohlf 1, Dr Pauleen Bennett, Prof Grahame Coleman, Dr Samia Toukhsati
1 Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University Caulfield, 2 Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University Caulfield, 3 Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University Caulfield, 4 Animal Welfare Science Centre, Monash University Caulfield
Various dog management behaviours must be performed by owners to promote both the welfare of dogs and community health, safety and amenity. Research investigating factors that influence owner behaviours is lacking. In this study we conducted an online survey of over 1000 Australians, seeking to identify factors that predict management behaviours. Compliance was generally high, ranging from 98% for confinement of dogs to 64.5% for attendance at obedience classes. Attitudes and demographic variables were particularly relevant in predicting management behaviours less regulated by laws (e.g. desexing behaviours). An unexpected finding was that dog owners are particularly sensitive to normative expectations; their choice of whether or not to perform some management behaviours was dependent on what they believed their friends and family members would expect. This has important implications. Educational campaigns to promote responsible dog ownership are most likely to be effective if these specific attitudes are addressed.
THE LINK BETWEEN DOG CONTROL AND ANIMAL WELFARE
Ms Clare Connell
Auckland City Council, NZ
Auckland City Council’s strong dog management policies have resulted in improved animal welfare - fewer attacks on animals as well as people, fewer dogs hurt in traffic accidents, fewer dogs picked up wandering, and fewer unclaimed dogs euthanised.
The council’s policy focuses on aggressive dogs, roaming dogs, unleashed dogs and dog registration.
For the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 years we had 100% registration of known dogs. (When this abstract was written, we expect to have all known dogs registered by the end of March 2009).
Our registration work includes publicity and incentives as well as the animal control officers visiting properties (at times with the Police), issuing $300.00 fines and impounding unregistered dogs.
We have learned from the experiences and research of people like Dr Richard Murray and various Australian councils in formulating our policy.
THE VICTORIAN CAT TRACKING STUDY PART 2- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ADOPTED CATS?
Dr Linda Marston 1, Dt Pauleen Bennett 1
1 Anthrozoology Research Group, Monash University, 2 Anthrozoology Research Group, Monash University
People who adopted a cat during the Victorian Cat Tracking Study were surveyed to identify factors that influenced the adoption decision, describe their ownership practices, identify problems experienced and determine factors related to relinquishment. Overall, adoptions were extremely successful. Reasons for adoptive failures were primarily owner-related, although some feline behaviour was less well tolerated. Although adoption failures were rare, some cats were returned because of the regulatory changes requiring 24 hour cat confinement, suggesting that shelter and pound statistics should be monitored to ensure that there are no unforeseen consequences of legislative change. Items of concern include: the number of people who rented accommodation without a ‘pets allowed’ clause in their contract and the number of cats allowed to roam. Although registration with councils is mandated in Victoria, microchip tags were preferred over registration tags as a method of identification, indicating a possible method of streamlining animal management procedures.