Your browser doesn't support javascript.
The COVID-19 pandemic affects owners walking with their dogs.
Vucinic, Marijana; Vucicevic, Milos; Nenadovic, Katarina.
  • Vucinic M; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Animal Hygiene, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Vucicevic M; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Equine, Small Animal, Poultry and Wild Animal Diseases, Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Nenadovic K; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Animal Hygiene, Belgrade, Serbia.
J Vet Behav ; 48: 1-10, 2022 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1472082
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a strict state of emergency on Belgrade residents with a curfew and restriction on movement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how the measures introduced as a consequence of this disease in the capital of Serbia affected the duration of walking time of owners and their dogs. The study allowed for sociodemographics of owners, characteristics of their homes and breeds of dog. The research was conducted in the period from March 22 to April 4, 2020. In general, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions reduced the duration of dog walks and owners' walking time. Of the 216 adult dog owners, 59% walked their dogs successfully (≥150 min/week) before the state of emergency. The number of owners who walked their dogs for ≥150 min/week decreased to only 44% (N = 96) during the state of emergency. The pandemic also decreased the number of owners who achieved total walking times of ≥150 min/week, so only 56% of them were successful in total walking time during the state of emergency (100% were successful before the pandemic, as this was one of inclusion criteria). This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). A Wilcoxon signed-rank test found significant differences in the total walking time before and during the state of emergency, with regard to characteristics of the owner, home and dog, with strong effect sizes for these differences (P < 0.01). McNemar's test showed that female owners, owners aged 45-64 years and owners with high income who were previously successful in walking their dogs (≥150 min/week) were more affected by the pandemic in regard to walking time with dogs (P < 0.01). Significant correlations (P < 0.01) were observed between dog breed and walking time before the state of emergency; age and walking time with the dog during the state of emergency and; age and total walking time during the state of emergency. Comparisons between different categories within the same characteristics (owner demographics, home characteristics and dog breed) by Fisher's exact test found significant differences only between younger and older dog owners in total walking time during the state of emergency (P < 0.01). Younger owners were significantly more successful in achieving ≥150 min/week total walking time than owners aged 45-64. The COVID-19 pandemic has left some owners jobless and allowed them to spend more time walking dogs. The occurrence of this disease has led to changes in the social structure of households and in the daily habits of household members. These factors have affected on the length of walking time of owners and their dogs in Belgrade.
Palavras-chave

Texto completo: Disponível Coleções: Bases de dados internacionais Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: Inglês Revista: J Vet Behav Ano de publicação: 2022 Tipo de documento: Artigo

Similares

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Texto completo: Disponível Coleções: Bases de dados internacionais Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: Inglês Revista: J Vet Behav Ano de publicação: 2022 Tipo de documento: Artigo