INDAGINE PILOTA SULLA REALTÀ DEI CANILI E DEI GATTILI IN ITALIA

The law no. 281/91 defines minimum structural and management requires for shelters and catteries. These structures are places of refuge of animals, but also epidemiological observers and subjects of study of human-animal relationship. In the present study we administered questionnaires to volunteers of shelters and catteries throughout Italy, in order to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and to investigate the degree of environmental enrichment, interaction with man and the wellbeing of animals of each structure involved in the project. Few people filled out questionnaires (10,3% of shelters’ volunteers and 16,9% of catteries’ operators), particularly from Sicily, Piedmont and Lombardy. Statistical analysis performed on the obtained results highlighted as an appropriate environmental enrichment and a good degree of interaction with humans allow to reduce stress and to encourage successful adoptions of dogs. The legislation should be implemented with information on environmental enrichment and interactions with humans. Operators should be trained in the preparation of animal adoptions, in order to reduce the failures and make shelters places of passage for animals and not a final settlement for them.