STUDY OF THE FELINE AND CANINE POPULATIONS IN THE GREATER LAS-VEGAS AREA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (2) , 282-287
Abstract
Analysis of household dogs and cats, based on age-distribution data and on age-specific birth and survival rates, as well as on pet source, indicated that the dog and cat populations are stable and not increasing in size (.lambda. .simeq. 1). Roaming dogs and cats euthanatized at the pound represented about 5.7% and 8.1% of the estimated dog and cat populations, respectively. The death at the pound seems to be effective in checking pet population growth. Among pets acquired, 84% were < 1 yr of age for dogs as compared with 88% for cats. Breeders and pet shops supplied about 7% of cats and 17% of dogs. About 10% of cats and 10% of dogs were acquired at the pound, while 6.4% of dogs and 14% of cats were acquired as stray. About 45% of dogs and 41% of cats were acquired from pet owners. Some dogs (12.46%) and cats (12%) were imported from outside the Las Vegas area. Of dogs and cats below 2 mo. of age, 33% and 19.5%, respectively, came from breeders or pet shops were imported from outside the area. Of unspayed female dogs, 17% and unspayed female cats 16% reproduced. The percentages of spayed females were 77 for dogs and 86 for cats. Of the dogs 45% and of the cats 48% were males. Among dogs at the shelter, 2% were neutered and 26% spayed. At the pound, 24% of dogs were small breeds, 24% medium size breeds, and 52% large breeds. In the population, on the other hand, 35% were small breeds, 30% were medium size breeds, and 35% were large breeds. These figures indicate that the majority of dogs that roam may be large breeds. Of households, 46% had dogs; 22% had cats. The number of pets/household averaged 0.69 for dogs and 0.35 for cats. For households with dogs, there was an average of 1.49 dogs/household. For households with cats, the average was 1.61 cats. The ratio of people to pets was 3.92:1 for dogs and 7.74:1 for cats. The increases in dogs and cats in 1982 as a result of new pet ownership are estimated at 3.6% and 1.8%, respectively. These should be considered as the upper limits. The deaths produced at the pound are likely to compensate for this increase. The average age at death was 7.02 yr for cats and 9.57 yr for dogs. The average age in the dog population was 5.32 yr. The average age in the cat population was 4.86 yr. The average age (as estimated by pound personnel) for pets entering the pound was 1.68 yr for dogs and 1.16 yr for cats. The average age (as given by owner claiming the pet) was 2.53 yr for dogs and 1.66 yr for cats. Dogs acquired from breeders and pet shops were represented with considerably less frequency in the pound (significantly less than their representation in the population). This may imply that they did not roam as much as dogs from other sources. Dogs born at home or acquired from the pound were represented at the pound at a much higher frequency than their representation in the population, implying that these dogs were allowed to roam more often than others. Approximately 15% of the dog and cat population were handled at the pound per year. A majority of roaming dogs and cats are probably owned animals.

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