The Influence of Community Feeders and Commercial Food Outlets on the Spatial Distribution of Free-Roaming Dogs—A Photographic Capture and Recapture Study

ABSTRACT:

Simple Summary

Interactions between free-roaming dogs and humans influence the quality of life and behavior of both species. Understanding the spatial distribution of free-roaming dogs is essential in designing policies to control zoonoses and improve canine well-being. In the present study, by means of photographic captures and recaptures and geospatial position recordings of 554 dogs, we demonstrated that the location of the animals in an urban environment was influenced by the direct supply of food offered by the human population. Free-roaming dogs stayed closer to community feeders than to commercial food outlets. We know that community feeders are essential to improve the quality of life of free-roaming dogs. However, they should be in areas with reduced movement of people/ve

SUBMITTER: de Melo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10000244 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature