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Application of a welfare assessment tool (Shelter Quality Protocol) in 64 Italian long-term dogs’ shelters: welfare hazard analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

L Arena ,
GV Berteselli ,
F Lombardo ,
L Candeloro ,
P Dalla Villa  and
F De Massis
L Arena*
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Teramo, SP18, 64100 Teramo, Italy
GV Berteselli
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
F Lombardo
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
L Candeloro
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
P Dalla Villa
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
F De Massis
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
*
* Contact for correspondence: laurarena@hotmail.it
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Abstract

The confined environment of the dog shelter, particularly over extensive time-periods can impact severely on welfare. Surveillance and assessment are therefore essential components of the welfare protocol. The aim of this study was to generate a descriptive analysis of a sample of Italian long-term shelters and identify potential hazards regarding the welfare of shelter dogs. This was achieved through application of the Shelter Quality Protocol (SQP) to link income/outcome variables and the inclusion of sixty-four long-term shelters in Italy. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Key findings showed feeding regime, type of diet and access to outdoor area to be significantly associated with inadequate body condition score (BCS). The probability of observing skin lesions was shown to be influenced by bedding inadequacy and bedding type. Limiting beds to one per dog and utilising clean bedding materials was significantly associated with a reduced probability of observing dirty/wet dogs. Protection from adverse weather conditions and inadequate bedding were significantly associated with the manifestation of polypnea. Non-existent dog training facilities, outdoor access or leash walking were all found to significantly increase the likelihood of fearful or aggressive attitudes to people. Outdoor access also, in conjunction with feeding regime, was associated with the presence of diarrhoea. The SQP proved useful in identifying welfare hazards, both as regards shelter environment and shelter management. Identification of these hazards creates the opportunity for interventions to be applied, minimising the risks and improving the welfare of long-term shelter dogs.

Keywords

animal welfareassessmentdomestic doghazard analysisprotocolshelter
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , August 2019 , pp. 353 - 363
Copyright
© 2019 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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