Bem-estar animal: perfil do conhecimento e atitudes dos tutores de pequenos animais da cidade de Uberlândia-MG

Abstract

The number of pets in society has grown considerably, so the search for information to ensure a better quality of life for them is necessary, since they have natural needs and behaviors that need to be performed to ensure a high degree of animal welfare. Within the scope of animal welfare are the five freedoms, which can be assessed by parameters and methods, thus measuring the degree of welfare. This research aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and behavior of pet tutors of the city of Uberlândia-MG in their different zoning and divided into two age groups: 18 to 30 years old and over 30 years old. For this, 115 interviews were conducted through a pre-designed questionnaire containing 10 questions, based on the five freedoms of animal welfare. Data were analyzed and computed by percentage and Chi-square test (χ2). The results showed that there was no difference in the degree of animal welfare knowledge in the two age groups, the same in the different zoning. It was observed with the results obtained that the tutors of small animals have knowledge about animal welfare, but in several situations do not put into practice, as in cases of caudectomy; Daily cleaning in the places where your pets stay, especially when those places are also shared with the tutors themselves. Keep the vaccination card updated to prevent zoonoses and other infectious diseases from remaining in circulation; Provide fresh water and a balanced diet to ensure a good body score and socialize with your animals, whether by walking and accompanying them during the ride, either interacting with them or providing contact with them, so that abnormal or even stereotyped behaviors are avoided. Although tutors have behavior contrary to the freedoms for their pets. They consider that their pets live in well-being, this may be related to a not so thorough knowledge of the subject on the part of the tutors, or the non-realization of the knowledge that have. The role of the Veterinarian and other practitioners in sharing information and awareness of these small animal tutors would be a method of reversing this situation.