Study of the feline and canine populations in the Greater Las Vegas area

Abstract

SUMMARY 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 (λ ≃ 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 year 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 months of age, 33% and 19.5%, respectively, came from breeders or pet shops or were imported from outside the area. Seventeen percent of unspayed female dogs and 16% of unspayed female cats reproduced. The percentages of spayed females were 77 for dogs and 86 for cats. Forty-five percent of the dogs and 48% of the cats 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. Forty-six percent of households had dogs, while 22% had cats. The number of pets per 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. We estimate that the increases in dogs and cats in 1982 as a result of new pet ownership were 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 years for cats and 9.57 years for dogs. The average age in the dog population was 5.32 years. The average age in the cat population was 4.86 years. The average age (as estimated by pound personnel) for pets entering the pound was 1.68 years for dogs and 1.16 years for cats. The average age (as given by owner claiming the pet) was 2.53 years for dogs and 1.66 years 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 pet population were handled at the pound per year. There is evidence that a majority of roaming dogs and cats are owned animals.

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