Community dogs – staying time and population in urban bus terminals and parks in the municipality of Curitiba, Paraná

Abstract

Dog overpopulation is a reality considered a public health issue. The Curitiba Animal Protection Network provides assistance in health management of dogs that live in bus terminals and parks. The objective was to monitorize the length of stay and the number of community dogs presented in Curitiba bus terminals. The study was based on the retrospective analysis of data on community dogs monitored by the City Hall through descriptive statistics. The collected data was distributed in a spreadsheet, and the total number of animals for each variable and the average length of stay were calculated. The average length of stay was 2 years. All were non-defined breed, 67.7% males, 73.8% large, 85.4% adults, 70% sterilized and 87.7% microchipped. Furthermore, 23% were adopted, 27% died and 47.3% disappeared. Permanent monitoring is a fundamental part of the Community Dog Program, offering essential information for effective public policies.