Reported off-leash frequency and perceptions of risk for gastrointestinal parasitism are not associated in owners of park-attending dogs: a multifactorial investigation.

Associations between park use and infections with gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in dogs(Canis familiaris) have been previously observed, suggesting park use may pose risks forinfection in dogs, and potentially, in humans. This study was conducted to establish theoverall level of perceived risk of parasitism in dogs, the frequency of unleashing dogs inparks, and to determine if dog owners’ risk perceptions of parasite transmission amonghumans and dogs are associated with the reported frequency of unleashing dogs. From Juneto September 2010, 635 surveys were administered to dog owners in nine city parks in Cal-gary, Alberta, by the lead author to explore dog-walking behaviors in parks under differingleashing regulations. From these, a subset of 316 questionnaires were analyzed to examineassociations between behavioral and dog demographic factors, risk perception and accept-ability of perceived risks of dog and human parasitism, and education regarding parasitismin dogs and humans. Multivariate statistics were conducted using three separate Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision trees to model risk perceptionof dogs becoming parasitized while in the park, risk perception of zoonotic transmission,and off-leash frequency. Predictors included recreational behaviors, dog demographics, riskperception of park-based and zoonotic transmission, education regarding parasites, andleashing regulations (e.g. on-leash, off-leash, or mixed management parks). The perceivedrisk of park-based transmission was relatively higher than perception of zoonotic trans-mission and the majority of people unleashed their dogs at least some of the time. Riskperception was not associated with off-leash frequency in dogs and risk perception andoff-leash frequency were associated with factors other than each other. The results suggestowners may underestimate the potential risks for parasitism