HABRI Central

The researchers surveyed 206 residents of a Hispanic community on the Texas-Mexico border about their behaviors and attitudes toward companion animals. Selected members of the community administered a telephone survey to a systematic random sample of 206 individuals. The majority of participants believed that free-roaming dogs were a problem in their community, and nearly 81% responded that these dogs sometimes prevented them from walking outdoors. About 24% of dog guardians sometimes let their nonhuman animals roam free in the streets. Most study participants believed it was a good idea to sterilize both male and female dogs and cats, but only 11% of respondents' dogs and 27% of cats were sterilized. About 62% of households chained dogs outdoors; persons with an elementary-level education were 7 times more likely to chain their dogs than those who had completed some high school. The Hispanic population of the United States is growing rapidly; to guide officials charged with protecting animal welfare and the public health, it will become increasingly important to understand Hispanics' attitudes and behaviors toward companion animals.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

1. Animal rights
2. Animal welfare
3. Attitudes
4. Behavior and behavior mechanisms
5. Developed countries
6. Latinos/Latinas
7. North America
8. OECD countries
9. peer-reviewed
10. Pets and companion animals
11. Social psychology and social anthropology
12. stray animals
13. surveys
14. Texas
15. United States of America