Estudo da dinâmica populacional e das estratégias de manejo da população canina no município de Itabirito, MG, Brasil de 2007 a 2011

Abstract

This paper aimed at studying the canine population dynamics and evaluate its population management strategies in Itabirito county, Minas Gerais State, from 2007 to 2011. Data were collected through two cross-sectional studies applied at intervals of one year, 10% of the canine population, randomly sampled systematically in all neighborhoods of the urban area, and by obtaining secondary data from the Zoonosis Service Control and the Department of animal protection in the county. The impact of population density in canine sterilization was performed by means of mathematical modeling. The results revealed the existence of 5.2 dogs per capita, 0.47 dogs per property (2.25 to 1.85) dogs per property with their presence. The dogs were present in 72.8% of the surveyed properties, which 42.09% contained two animals and 93.86% had physical barriers blocking them. The average age of the animals was 3.5 and the ratio male / female was (1,1105:1 - 0,98:1). The birth rate was 19.39%, the mortality rate was around 20.86% and abandonment dog´s rate was over 3.6%. The average number of pups born alive was 3.7 per pregnancy and neonatal mortality was 31.4%. The proportion of sterilized animals was (15% - 21.78%). As for the breed, 56.41% of the dogs had not defined breed, 41.71% were considered as small size and 66.67% were aimed at companionship. In additional, 47.46% of the dogs were welcomed by donation and 42.38% never left to wander. Regarding reproductive control, around 17% of the dog´s population that had come from all the neighborhoods in the urban area, were sterilized through the years 2007 to 2011. The annual rates of sterilization used in the resident population were not effective in promoting a significant decrease in canine population density over ten years, however in the presence of abandoning the impact of this strategy on canine density was higher. The selective collection of dogs on the streets was done humanely, but the number of dogs collected was lower compared to the total number of animals in the city, and the euthanasia of these animals were the most frequent destination. The campaign promoted by the animal protection entity presented a significant number of adoptions, but was inefficient as tracking dogs after adoption. The dog´s population was in equilibrium, and this may has been associated with interventions promoted by man. The rates of sterilization, euthanasia and adoption presented close values and together may have influenced the equilibrium in the dog´s population. However, the abandonment problem of these animals was detected and It was influenced by social, economic and cultural conditions, that leaded to the implementation of educational activities in the county as a strategy to increase the level of the guard in charge of the dog´s population and reduce the abandoned dogs and provide sustainability for management actions in canine population in Itabirito.