Community attitudes and perceptions towards free-roaming dogs in Goa, India

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Animal Behavior and Welfare
• Human-Animal Interactions

Background:

• Free-roaming dogs (FRD) are prevalent in India, often linked to human-canine conflict.
• Objective data on community attitudes toward FRD in India is scarce.
• Understanding local perceptions is crucial for effective human-dog conflict management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To collect baseline data on free-roaming dog feeding practices in Goa, India.
• To assess urban and rural community attitudes toward free-roaming dogs.
• To identify problems caused by FRD and proposed community-based solutions.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 1141 households in Goa, India.
• Data collection on FRD feeding practices and community perceptions.
• Analysis of reported problems and suggested solutions regarding FRD.

Main Results:

• 37% of respondents reported feeding FRD, with dog owners and Hindus most likely to do so.
• Majorities viewed FRD as a menace (57%), nuisance (58%), and scary (60%).
• Significant portions also saw FRD as vulnerable (59%), belonging in communities (66%), and having a right to street life (53%). Barking was the primary complaint, with sheltering the preferred solution.

Conclusions:

• Community-dog relationships in India are complex and often misunderstood.
• Attitudes toward FRD are ambivalent, balancing perceived problems with empathy.
• Findings offer insights for developing targeted strategies to mitigate human-dog conflict.