Search Results (190)

Environmental impact plays a pivotal role in forming the welfare of shelter dogs exposed to chronic stress. Standard methods of animal health monitoring, such as psychological evaluation or cortisol measurements, do not fully reflect modulation of the immune system. Functional cellular changes may be subtle and observed only at the molecular level. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the immune function of shelter dogs kept on different timetables in comparison with client-owned dogs. We focused on potential alterations of antigen processing by neutrophils and monocytes in animals undergoing different durations of stress. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated, and changes in TLR4 and MHC Class II expression on neutrophils and monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were determined. Additionally, we measured the percentage of apoptotic cells within these leukocyte populations. Our study revealed that stressful conditions can alter the molecular pattern of surface receptors on neutrophils and monocytes, as well as the leukocytes apoptosis rate. The obtained data also indicated that the dogs’ duration of stay in the shelter plays an important role in immunomodulation and triggering their adaptation mechanisms. These results bring a new perspective and will be crucial in developing improved guidelines for monitoring and promoting the welfare of shelter dogs. Full article

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most common microsporidian parasites, primarily infecting the intestinal epithelial cells of a broad range of animal species, including humans. To date, no scientific reports have documented Enterocytozoon spp. in animal hosts in Romania. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and genetic characteristics of E. bieneusi in shelter dogs, as well as its potential public health relevance. Between December 2022 and May 2025, a total of 112 freshly voided diarrheal fecal samples were collected from dogs housed in a shelter near Timișoara Municipality, Romania. The samples were subjected to molecular analysis using a two-step nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. The resulting sequences were deposited in GenBank^® and analyzed phylogenetically. PCR analysis revealed E. bieneusi DNA in 11 (9.8%) samples, identifying two genotypes, with PtEb IX (n = 10) as the dominant genotype and BEB4 (n = 1), which has zoonotic potential. A significant difference in prevalence was found between juvenile (23.1%) and adult (5.8%) dogs (p = 0.026). Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences showed that the isolates clustered into two distinct clades alongside reference sequences from the GenBank^® database. This is the first report of E. bieneusi infection in animals in Romania, providing essential baseline data and highlighting the need for broader surveillance into its prevalence and genetic diversity in other potential hosts. These results reflect the prevalence and genetic diversity of E. bieneusi exclusively among symptomatic (diarrheic) dogs and should not be generalized to the broader shelter dog population. Full article

Shelter environments can be inherently stressful for dogs, a highly social species that forms strong attachment bond with humans. This study evaluated stress responses in 26 shelter dogs during routine veterinary examinations, analyzing behavioral scores alongside physiological and hormonal parameters, including heart rate, body temperature, cortisol (CRT), oxytocin (OXT), serotonin (5-HT), tryptophan (TRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A significant negative correlation was observed between OXT and CRT (ρ = –0.540, p = 0.007), particularly in dogs exhibiting relaxed behavior. OXT was also negatively correlated with body temperature (ρ = –0.435, p = 0.034), supporting its potential role in modulating stress-induced hyperthermia. No significant associations were found between TRP, 5-HT, IL-6, or other physiological measures and behavioral scores. The absence of correlation between TRP and 5-HT may be due to blood–brain barrier regulation, while IL-6′s lack of association suggests further investigation is needed to clarify its role in canine stress responses. These findings highlight OXT’s possible buffering effect on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and suggest that behavioral assessment may offer a more sensitive measure of canine stress than hormonal or physiological parameters alone. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to confirm and expand upon these results. Full article

Background: Southern Brazil faced massive rains and floods in May 2024, which led to social, infrastructural, and One Health issues affecting over 478 municipalities and 2.3 million people. Exposure to floodwater increased the risk of bacterial infections, including leptospirosis. Despite the zoonotic nature of leptospiral infections, only human leptospirosis is subject to mandatory reporting, while canine cases are less closely monitored. Considering the extent of this climatic event, many emergency shelters were created for rescued dogs, highlighting the need to monitor infectious diseases to mitigate the spread of hazardous pathogens. Methods: We performed a molecular assessment of canine leptospirosis in Porto Alegre and its metropolitan region. A total of 246 dogs rescued from the flooded areas underwent molecular diagnosis targeting lipL32. In addition, positive samples were identified by sequencing of the partial secY gene. Results: A total of 9 (4%) dogs were positive for Leptospira spp. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of secY from the positive samples determined that the circulating strains belonged to L. interrogans (n = 8)—Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona as the suggested serogroups—and L. kirschneri (n = 1). Conclusions: Our findings point out the challenges in diagnosing and controlling leptospirosis during severe climatic events and reinforce the need for preventive sanitary measures to mitigate the dissemination of Leptospira spp., including the adoption of a mandatory notification system for canine leptospirosis. Full article

This study examined the socioeconomic and veterinary cost factors influencing dog abandonment and adoption outcomes across 162 regions in the Republic of Korea from 2021 to 2023. Unlike prior research, this study distinguished between intentionally abandoned dogs and those lost and subsequently returned to their owners, normalizing abandonment data by population. Using publicly available regional data and spatial regression models, we found that the number of people receiving unemployment benefits was consistently and negatively associated with the number of dog abandonments per 100,000 residents, which was normalized by total population to avoid potential errors. Rabies vaccination costs were also negatively associated with abandonment. In contrast, comprehensive income tax amounts—a proxy for regional wealth—were positively correlated with the percentage of dog abandonments reported in 2021 and 2023. Spatial Lag Models accounted for over 50% of the variance in the number of dog abandonments, confirming spatial dependence and highlighting the importance of geographically targeted animal welfare interventions. However, spatial patterns in adoption were less consistent. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating economic and spatial considerations into the design of public policies and shelter strategies to mitigate dog abandonment and enhance adoption outcomes. Full article

Managing relinquished/stray dogs is a significant socio-economic and ethical challenge necessitating structured policies to ensure animal welfare and integration into society. Critical to successful rehoming is careful assessment of a dog’s temperament/behavior and appropriate matching of a dog to an owner. Shelter dogs’ involvement in canine-assisted interventions (CAIs) provides a potential avenue for rehoming through appropriate dog educational programs. CAIs consist of structured interactions between dog and clients targeted at specific groups with physical/psychological/emotional impairments in various settings. However, there is a lack of standardized protocols for assessing shelter dogs’ suitability for CAI, raising ethical concerns regarding selection/training practices. This study explores the ethical dimensions of rehoming shelter dogs for CAI, employing a philosophical framework considering the responsibilities of humans/veterinarians toward companion animals and how societal perceptions of human–animal relationships impact decision-making in this context. An ethical matrix is applied to evaluate the implications of rehoming decisions on canine and human interests. Our findings highlight the need for a balanced, responsible approach that respects the individuality of dogs while promoting their potential roles in human society. Ethical guidelines for the selection and training of shelter dogs for CAI could enhance their welfare, improve adoption rates, and reinforce the value of the human–animal bond. Full article

Eye disease in dogs is a common problem that can affect both the health and well-being of the animals. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and incidence of the most common eye diseases in a large population of dogs from two stray dog centers in northwestern Romania over a two-year period.We conducted a retrospective observational study of 208 eye diseases in two dog shelters in northwestern Romania: the “Ham Ham” Association and the “Free Life” Association in Satu Mare County. The study spanned from January 2022 to December 2023. We collected data on eye disease status from a total of 2293 dogs. The dogs were categorized into three age groups: young dogs (under 2 years), adult dogs (2 to 7 years), and senior dogs (over 7 years). Additionally, the dogs were grouped by sterilization status and gender. The statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-squared test, Student’s t-test, and binary logistic regression. The prevalence of ocular diseases in this study was 9.07%, with 208 out of 2293 dogs diagnosed with eye problems. The most common ocular diseases observed were conjunctivitis (58/208 or 27.9%), eyelid issues (50/208 or 24%), cataracts (40/208 or 19.2%), glaucoma (13/208 or 6.3%), keratopathies (10/208 or 4.8%), traumatic eye injuries (10/208 or 4.8%), foreign bodies (7/208 or 3.4%), blepharitis (5/208 or 2.4%), proptosis (3/208 or 1.4%), progressive retinal atrophy ((3/208 or 1.4%), retinal detachment ((3/208 or 1.4%), and dry eye (2/208 or 1%). Among the three age groups, puppies and young dogs (under 2 years) were the most affected, with a punctual prevalence of 50.96% at the “Free Life” center and 65.51% at the “Ham Ham” center. Compared with older dogs, the younger dogs were 4.91 times more likely to develop conjunctivitis (OR = 4.91, p = 0.001), 9.38 times more likely to develop eyelid problems (OR = 9.38, p < 0.000), and 0.31 times less likely to develop cataracts (OR = 0.31, p = 0.019).Our epidemiological study found that eye diseases are common among shelter dogs, with incidence rates (new cases over a specific period) varying by age. The youngest and oldest dogs were the most affected, with the highest prevalence observed in the youngest group. The study also highlighted the significant impact of factors such as the shelter center (p < 0.000), age (p < 0.000), and sterilization status (p < 0.000) on the prevalence of eye disorders. These findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness about eye diseases and their risk factors to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. Full article

A major reason people surrender their dogs or fail to adopt them from shelters is due to concerns regarding the management of behavioral issues. This makes effective training of everyday obedience behaviors crucial to dog welfare. Here, we test the playful learning hypothesis to examine whether play after a training session increases a dog’s success in learning two basic Canine Good Citizen behaviors: “sit” and “stay”. In two studies, the dogs experienced brief training sessions and then were assigned to either play or rest. The next day, they returned for another brief training session, and we measured any change in the duration that the dogs were able to hold a “sit” and “stay” from the first day. In Experiment 1, the subjects with low baseline levels of ability improved more after playing than those subjects that simply rested after training. However, Experiment 2, which further controlled for exercise and time spent with trainers, and standardized the measure of success across dogs regardless of their initial ability levels, did not replicate the improved performance in response to play after a training session. Overall, we find limited support for the application of the playful learning hypothesis to everyday training and suggest avenues for future research to determine how play might improve training outcomes for pet dogs. Full article

Many stressors have been identified for shelter dogs, and while stress is a natural physical response, exposure to shelter stressors has been implicated in poor dog welfare including the formation of maladaptive behaviors that manifest as unappealing responses toward humans. Inappropriate behavioral reactions to humans lead to longer lengths of stay in the shelter, so identifying ways to reduce these responses to human presence would not only benefit the immediate welfare of the dog but could also decrease the amount of time the dog spends in the shelter. Previous studies have shown that response-independent food paired with an auditory stimulus reduced behaviors that likely prolong time to adoption; however, these interventions used an explicit discriminative stimulus where a more easily deployed design would be effective without requiring an additional stimulus to precede the food. The purpose of the present study was to extend that work to evaluate the effect of noncontingent reinforcement on reducing behavioral reactions to humans in the presence both of the experimenter and other people. Overall, the intervention was effective at decreasing human-directed behavioral responses but did not decrease the dogs’ length of stay. Changes in reactive behaviors appear to be limited to the presence of the experimenter during the first and last trials, with improvements generalizing to non-experimenters only for two behaviors: staying in the front half of the kennel and facing the kennel front. Our recommendation for shelters is that this intervention would be most effective at improving behaviors directed at a person delivering treats to the dog. Full article

Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained popularity in veterinary medicine for its potential to alleviate stress, pain, and inflammation in dogs. However, its oral administration is limited by hydrophobicity, variable absorption, and extensive first-pass metabolism, which requires optimized delivery methods to enhance efficacy. This study investigated the effects of daily oral supplementation of CBD oil and CBD gel (each at 4 mg/kg), compared to a placebo, over 14 days in shelter dogs subjected to solitary confinement-induced stress. Both CBD formulations appeared safe under the study conditions, with no adverse effects on hematological and biochemical parameters. Post-stress cortisol levels were significantly lower in CBD-treated groups compared to controls, with CBD-infused gel showing a pattern toward greater attenuation. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct blood profile shifts in CBD-treated dogs, with PCA loadings indicating associations between CBD supplementation and lymphocyte percentages and IgG levels. These findings support gel-based CBD as a promising strategy for stress modulation in dogs. Further studies should explore its pharmacokinetics and long-term immune effects to optimize veterinary applications. Full article

Staphylococci are common pathogens in dogs, causing a variety of dermatological problems. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm-forming potential of Staphylococcus species isolated from the skin of shelter dogs. Overall, 108 samples were collected from the hairless skin areas of dogs in a shelter over one year. Isolates were cultured using standard microbiological methods and identified through biochemical testing, MALDI-TOF MS, and multiplex PCR. A total of 67 Staphylococcus isolates were identified, with S. pseudintermedius being the most prevalent. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using disk diffusion and MIC methods, revealing high resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Notably, 12 multidrug-resistant SIG (S. intermedius group; S. pseudintermedius) and 4 CoNS strains (coagulase-negative staphylococci; S. equorum) were identified. Biofilm production was evaluated using a crystal violet assay, showing variable biofilm-forming capabilities among isolates and PCR, to confirm genes associated with biofilm formation. These findings highlight the presence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus species in shelter dogs, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and antibiotic stewardship to manage potential risks to both animal and human health. Full article

Length of stay is an important metric for animal shelters, and studies have identified physical characteristics of dogs, and some behaviors, that predict length of stay. Although many shelters include leash walks when introducing dogs to potential adopters, it is unknown whether behaviors during harnessing and walking influence length of stay. During 707 walks of 120 dogs at a New York shelter, we recorded excitable behaviors, such as jumping on handlers, grabbing the leash, and pulling on the leash, whose measures of prevalence were largely unknown for shelter dogs. We also examined whether dog demographic characteristics predicted behaviors and whether behaviors predicted length of stay. During harnessing, jumping on handlers had the highest prevalence (45%), while during walking, pulling on the leash was most prevalent (86%). Dog age was the most common demographic predictor of behaviors, with jumping on handlers and total pulls/walk decreasing with age. Grabbing the leash predicted length of stay, with longer stays for dogs that displayed this behavior. These two findings suggest that it would be beneficial for shelter staff and volunteers to focus training efforts on younger dogs and those that grab the leash. Full article

Free-roaming cats and dogs impact biodiversity, public health, and the welfare of other animals. Attitudes towards free-roaming animals can influence their population dynamics and management success. We conducted an online survey to evaluate social perceptions and attitudes towards free-roaming animals among self-selected Portuguese residents aged 18 or older with internet access. The survey focused on responsible ownership, perceptions and attitudes, and management practices, and allowed the collection and analysis of 1083 responses (607 for dogs and 476 for cats). Our results identified needs for improvement in pet ownership: increasing pet cat identification, reducing unsupervised outdoor access, and promoting pet dog sterilization. In terms of management strategies, we found strong support for trap–neuter–release, sheltering, sanctions on abandonment, and educational campaigns. We also found limited support for lethal control methods and fear of culling and long-term caging as barriers to reporting free-roaming animals. While our findings are based on a self-selected online sample, they establish a foundation for future research while also offering valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders. Full article

The no-kill policy for domestic dogs, adopted in Italy in 1991, reflects a growing interest in animal welfare and increases the chances of dogs being adopted and living with a family. However, unadoptable dogs must spend their entire lives in shelters. This paper reports the adoption numbers from the ‘Muratella’ shelter (Rome) during the periods 2012–2016 (first period) and 2018–2022 (second period), illustrating the outcomes of the no-kill policy in a large metropolitan area. Furthermore, it discusses the ethical implications after 34 years of implementing Italian laws on the management of free-ranging dogs. During the first period, 7888 dogs entered the shelter, of which 4247 (53.84%) were adopted and 307 (3.89%) were not adopted. Similarly, during the second period, 8853 dogs entered the shelter, of which 4251 (49.11%) were adopted and 278 (3.16%) remained in the shelter by the end of 2022. Furthermore, we report the fate of unadopted dogs by the end of 2024. Despite the success in adoptions, the small percentage of dogs condemned to lifelong shelter residence still represents a significant number and warrants ethical reflection. Full article

Between September 2013 and 2022, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) received 2783 suspected animal cruelty cases involving 5745 animals through a partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). These cases involved dogs (2271/2783, 82%), cats (408/2783, 15%), and other species (104/2783, 4%). Dogs were most likely to be presented for suspected neglect (1424/2271, 63%), and cats for suspected non-accidental injury (233/408, 58%). Animals were most often presented by law enforcement (1018/2783, 37%), municipal shelters (383/2783, 14%), and veterinarians (311/2783, 11%). These findings contribute to understanding neglect as a commonly reported type of animal cruelty. Cruelty toward cats appears less well understood and may be under-reported or more severe, requiring further research and attention. Full article