The welfare status of dogs at selected animal shelters in central Uganda

Abstract

Animal shelters in Uganda are consistently plagued by low adoption rates relative to intakes, leading to overcrowding which strains resources, negatively impacting animal welfare. This study sought to document the animal-based welfare issues faced by dogs at selected animal shelters, and the associated resource and management risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and July 2024 involving data collection from a convenience sample of 4 animal shelters, each located in one of four districts in central Uganda-namely, Kampala, Mityana, Luweero, and Wakiso. Structured questionnaires adopted from the Shelter Quality Protocol®. (SQP) were employed to assess management, resource and animal-based welfare measures. Overall, 81 dogs from 32 pens across the 4 shelters were evaluated. 39.1% (32/81) were young, 50.6% (41/81) were adult, and 9.9% (8/81) were geriatric. Welfare issues of noteworthy prevalence at individual level were; underweight BCS (59.3%, 48/81), display of fear/aggression (39.1%, 32/81), and skin lesions (45.7%, 37/81), while at pen level; panting (31.3%, 10/32), signs of diarrhea (46.9%, 15/32), evidence of pain (56.3%, 18/32), and stereotypic behaviors (46.9%, 15/32) were frequently observed. The prevalent threats to welfare recorded at pen level were; inadequate space allowance (59%, 19/32), sharp/harmful edges inside the pens (37%, 12/32), and inadequate water supply, bedding and shelter from adverse weather in 59.4% (19/32), 68.8% (22/32) and 59.4% (19/32) of the pens respectively, while at shelter level; no provision for exercise (50%, 2/4), lack of personnel for training and rehabilitating dogs (75%, 3/4), lack of hospital pens (50%, 2/4), lack of a shelter veterinarian (75%, 3/4), and no special diet for puppies, hospitalized dogs and geriatrics (75%, 3/4) were notable. Logistic regression analysis identified several risk factor-welfare issue relationships: the number of dogs per pen predicted pain (P=0.001) and stereotypic behaviors (P=0.007); insufficient personnel for training linked to stereotypic behaviors (P=0.027); ‘other’ bedding types (P=0.028) and sharp edges (P=0.04) to skin conditions; geriatric age to wounds (P=0.035) and hair loss (P=0.001); adult age-class to fear/aggression (P=0.041); and lack of outdoor access related to underweight conditions (P=0.008). Despite the financial constraints, small but consistent improvements in housing, bedding, water, and management practices could significantly enhance animal welfare and adoption rates. Further research is needed to explore the impact of public attitudes towards shelters on adoption rates in Ugandan shelters.