In the last years, due to an increased awareness on animal welfare, some bureaux dealing with animal protection, especially protection of dogs and cats (Animal Affairs Bureaux=AAB), have been created on the Italian territory. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and work of AAB in Italy. In 2011, a 16-item questionnaire was sent to all the Italian Animal Affairs Bureaux that could be tracked on the web. Overall, a shortage of AAB was observed (n=68). The first AAB was created in 1992. The distribution was uneven, with 34 centers in Lombardy, 7 in Tuscany, and 5 on 20 Regions without any AAB. Thirty-one questionnaires were returned. Among respondents, the staff (1 to 8 people per AAB, 88 in total) had not attended any preparatory courses; and only 22.6% of people working in a AAB had previous experience or training in the field. The tasks mainly performed by AAB were: providing information to public audience regarding animal protection and management (96.7%); petitions for animal mistreatments (87.0%); census of free-ranging cats living in the colonies recognised by the municipality (74.1%); acceptance or rejection of the relinquishment or transfer of owned dogs (67.7%); capture and reintroduction of cats belonging to recognised colonies (67.7%). In many of the districts, dog shelters were not present (38.7% for short permanence shelters and 58.1% for long permanence shelters), although mandatory by law. The vast majority of districts (83.8%) had created areas in which owned dogs can be left off-leash and socialize with other dogs. However, only 40.0% of districts along the coast had beaches equipped for dogs (8 in Tuscany and 6 in Emilia-Romagna). Most districts (74.2%) fulfilled their own regulations concerning animal protection. In conclusion, AAB play an important role in urban anthrozoology. However, their staff, spread, and facilities should be largely implemented in Italy.

A survey on the presence and work of Animal Affairs Bureaux in Italy

Mariti C
Primo
;
Biagi G;Sighieri C
Penultimo
;
Gazzano A.
Ultimo
2015-01-01

Abstract

In the last years, due to an increased awareness on animal welfare, some bureaux dealing with animal protection, especially protection of dogs and cats (Animal Affairs Bureaux=AAB), have been created on the Italian territory. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and work of AAB in Italy. In 2011, a 16-item questionnaire was sent to all the Italian Animal Affairs Bureaux that could be tracked on the web. Overall, a shortage of AAB was observed (n=68). The first AAB was created in 1992. The distribution was uneven, with 34 centers in Lombardy, 7 in Tuscany, and 5 on 20 Regions without any AAB. Thirty-one questionnaires were returned. Among respondents, the staff (1 to 8 people per AAB, 88 in total) had not attended any preparatory courses; and only 22.6% of people working in a AAB had previous experience or training in the field. The tasks mainly performed by AAB were: providing information to public audience regarding animal protection and management (96.7%); petitions for animal mistreatments (87.0%); census of free-ranging cats living in the colonies recognised by the municipality (74.1%); acceptance or rejection of the relinquishment or transfer of owned dogs (67.7%); capture and reintroduction of cats belonging to recognised colonies (67.7%). In many of the districts, dog shelters were not present (38.7% for short permanence shelters and 58.1% for long permanence shelters), although mandatory by law. The vast majority of districts (83.8%) had created areas in which owned dogs can be left off-leash and socialize with other dogs. However, only 40.0% of districts along the coast had beaches equipped for dogs (8 in Tuscany and 6 in Emilia-Romagna). Most districts (74.2%) fulfilled their own regulations concerning animal protection. In conclusion, AAB play an important role in urban anthrozoology. However, their staff, spread, and facilities should be largely implemented in Italy.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/955370
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