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Collins D, Lee H, Dunbar MD, Crowder K. Associations between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Dog Walking among Participants in the Dog Aging Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11179. [PMID: 36141449 PMCID: PMC9517596 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is negatively related to overall physical activity, prior studies reveal a complex relationship between disadvantage and particular walking behaviors. While disadvantage is associated with reduced recreational walking through a hypothesized "fear-of-crime" mechanism, the built environment in disadvantaged neighborhoods may encourage utilitarian walking. To date, no study has assessed how disadvantage relates to dog walking, a distinct walking behavior that is neither strictly recreational nor utilitarian but represents a key mechanism through which pet ownership may affect human health. We employ a large (n = 19,732) dataset from the Dog Aging Project to understand how neighborhood disadvantage is associated with dog walking when controlling for individual-, household-, and environmental-level factors. We find that dog owners in more disadvantaged neighborhoods report less on-leash walking activity compared to owners in advantaged neighborhoods and discuss the possibility of a fear-of-crime mechanism underlying this association. These findings improve our understanding of the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and physical function and highlight the need for public health interventions that encourage dog ownership to consider neighborhood disadvantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin Collins
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hannah Lee
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Matthew D Dunbar
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kyle Crowder
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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2
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Benefits and Conflicts: A Systematic Review of Dog Park Design and Management Strategies. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172251. [PMID: 36077971 PMCID: PMC9455081 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dog parks contribute physical and social benefits for both canines and their owners, especially during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, dogs in public places can create various conflicts. Growing numbers of scholars have explored strategies for effective park design and management. This systematic study synthesizes and analyze the benefits, conflicts, and strategies for the design and management of dog parks according to the PRISMA guidelines. Based on the summary of conflicts between canines, humans, and their environment, we present design and management guidance for dog parks to effectively mitigate these conflicts while enhancing the benefits of off-leash areas. While this study promotes a sustainable and healthy coexistence of canines and residents of built environments through appropriate design and management strategies, several research and practice gaps have been identified from the results, such as the dearth of experimental evidence and limitations of the physical benefits of dog parks. These research gaps provide opportunities for experts to address in future. Abstract Dog ownership and dog walking brings various health benefits for urban dwellers, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, but trigger a number of controversies. Dog parks have become increasingly significant public resources in the pandemic to support these benefits while facing intense conflicts. To develop effective dog parks in urban settings, growing numbers of scholars have provided insights into the design and management strategies for addressing the benefits and conflicts. The objective of this study is to synthesize and analyze various aspects of dog park design and management and to assess identified strategies for enhancing their benefits while mitigating their drawbacks. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic study was conducted to synthesize the benefits, conflicts, and management strategies of dog parks, supported by Citespace. Benefits and conflicts in dog park design and management have been synthesized and organized according to their frequency of presence and the statistical results. We analyzed and assessed existing design and management strategies. Through this systematic study, we discovered the need obtain o po experimental evidence on effective dog park design and management to enhance their benefits while mitigating their sources of conflict and limitations in the intensity of park visitors’ physical activity in off-leash areas. Guidelines for the design and management strategies for effective dog parks were made to enhance their benefits while alleviating conflicts in the future development of sustainable dog parks that promote healthy relationships between canines and residents in urban built environments.
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One Health: Flächen im Lebensumfeld von Mensch und Tier und ihre Auswirkungen auf Allergie und Asthma. ALLERGO JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s15007-022-5015-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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4
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Han S, Ye Y, Song Y, Yan S, Shi F, Zhang Y, Liu X, Du H, Song D. A Systematic Review of Objective Factors Influencing Behavior in Public Open Spaces. Front Public Health 2022; 10:898136. [PMID: 35602148 PMCID: PMC9120827 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.898136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
As a significant part of outdoor built-environment, public open spaces are closely associated with people's daily lives. Studies of outdoor behavior in these spaces can shed light on users' environmental perceptions and contribute to the promotion of physiological and psychological health. Many recent studies are case studies focused where observations, surveys and interviews have been conducted to understand the factors influencing people's behavior on one or few sites or city environments. There have been few reviews related to this topic, and none have been based on the systematic understanding of influencing factors. This paper presents a systematic review of interactions between behavior and the built environment in public open spaces, and highlights the impacts of diverse and objective influencing factors. Followed the rules of PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), 109 papers published in 2000-2021 were selected and reviewed. The distribution of the studied interactions is analyzed, and the impacts of four distinct factors: personal background, location and context, environmental component, and climate stimuli, are extracted, categorized, and specified. Moreover, outdoor health benefits are discussed based on which, crucial factors that require emphasis after the outbreak of COVID-19 are identified. Throughout this paper, behavioral influencing processes, including objective influencing factors, subjective feedback, and the relationships involved, are considered to provide a comprehensive picture. With the robust classification of existing factors, architects, urban designers, policy makers and fellow researches could be easier to get a more comprehensive trend from the past. This paper also provides guidance for future research, especially given that COVID-19 has created huge changes to outdoor needs and customary behavior. Systematic Review Registration: http://www.prisma-statement.org/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyan Han
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy Saving Study of Dense Habitat (Tongji University), Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Ye
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy Saving Study of Dense Habitat (Tongji University), Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Song
- Department of Architecture, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shurui Yan
- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Shi
- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hu Du
- Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dexuan Song
- Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy Saving Study of Dense Habitat (Tongji University), Shanghai, China
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5
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Lee H, Collins D, Creevy KE, Promislow DEL. Age and Physical Activity Levels in Companion Dogs: Results From the Dog Aging Project. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:1986-1993. [PMID: 35486978 PMCID: PMC9536450 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While there has been an abundance of studies on the important relationship between physical activity and age in both dogs and humans, studies on dogs have primarily focused on how a dog's biological characteristics, such as their weight, affect the age-activity relationship. To date, there is little knowledge about how this relationship may be associated with contextual- and owner-level characteristics. We leveraged a large and novel data set from the Dog Aging Project (DAP) to investigate the extent to which the age-activity relationship is associated with certain dog and owner characteristics, namely dog size, owner age, and the environment in which they live. Dogs are a unique model for aging research as they are exposed to similar social and environmental elements as humans but have a shorter life span, allowing researchers to observe their entire life course. We find that older dogs are less active than younger dogs; rural dogs are more active than suburban and urban dogs, especially at younger ages; and larger dogs are more active than smaller dogs. These findings are generally consistent with previous studies. However, a surprising finding is that older owners have more active dogs than younger owners. As one of the first studies to utilize the large survey data from the DAP, this study lays the foundation for future investigations to further understand and identify the biological, social, and environmental causes, as well as consequences, of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kate E Creevy
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel E L Promislow
- Address correspondence to: Daniel E. L. Promislow, DPhil, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Box 357705, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98915, USA. E-mail:
| | - Dog Aging Project Consortium
AkeyJoshua MLewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USABentonBrookeDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USABorensteinElhananDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelBlavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelSanta Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USACastelhanoMarta GCornell Veterinary Biobank, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USAColemanAmanda EDepartment of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USACreevyKate EDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USACrowderKyleDepartment of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USACenter for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADunbarMatthew DCenter for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAFajtVirginia RDepartment of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAFitzpatrickAnnette LDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAJefferyUnityDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAJonlinErica CDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAInstitute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAKaeberleinMattDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAKarlssonElinor KBioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USABroad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USAKerrKathleen FDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USALevineJonathan MDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAMaJingDivision of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USAMcClellandRobyn LDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAPromislowDaniel E LDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USARupleAudreyDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USASchwartzStephen MEpidemiology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USAShragerSandiCollaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USASnyder-MacklerNoahSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USACenter for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USASchool for Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USATolbertKatherineDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, USAUrferSilvan RDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USAWilfondBenjamin STreuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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Koohsari MJ, Yasunaga A, McCormack GR, Nakaya T, Nagai Y, Oka K. The Design Challenges for Dog Ownership and Dog Walking in Dense Urban Areas: The Case of Japan. Front Public Health 2022; 10:904122. [PMID: 35570944 PMCID: PMC9098991 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.904122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been growing interest in the role of pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, in managing noncommunicable diseases. The built environment can act as a facilitator or barrier to owning a dog or dog walking. Nevertheless, limited studies conducted in different geographical contexts have examined how the built environment can influence dog ownership and dog walking. In this interdisciplinary article, using Japan as a case study, we identify key design challenges to owning and walking dogs in dense urban areas as a means of promoting health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Javad Koohsari
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Mohammad Javad Koohsari
| | - Akitomo Yasunaga
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Bunka Gakuen University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gavin R. McCormack
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tomoki Nakaya
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yukari Nagai
- School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Japan
| | - Koichiro Oka
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
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7
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Westgarth C, Christley RM, Christian HE. A cross-sectional study of factors associated with regular dog walking and intention to walk the dog. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:570. [PMID: 35317770 PMCID: PMC8941754 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12902-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dog walking is important for public health and dog welfare, yet some owners do not walk with their dogs regularly. This study examined factors associated with participation in regular dog walking and intention to dog walk, in order to inform physical activity interventions. METHODS 191 dog-owning adults from a UK community were surveyed about their participation in dog walking, intention to dog walk, attitudes and behavioural beliefs regarding dog walking, and dog and owner demographics. Principal components analysis identified owner profiles regarding attitudes and behavioural beliefs about dog walking. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with being a regular dog walker (achieving 150mins per week of dog walking) and having a high intention to dog walk (at least 30 mins per day for at least 5 days per week over the next month). RESULTS Participants walked with their dogs for a median 7 times/week and 230 total minutes/week; regular dog walkers 9 times/week (400 minutes/week), compared to twice/week for irregular dog walkers (45 minutes/week). Being a regular dog walker was positively associated with having a high level of intention to walk the dog in the next month (OR=12.1 95%CI=3.5-42.4, P<0.001), being married or living with a partner (OR=33.5, 95%CI=2.5-458.8, P=0.01), and higher scores on a dog walking habit index (OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.3-3.5, P<0.01). However, higher support from friends for walking was negatively associated with being a regular dog walker (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.1-0.7, P<0.01). High intention to dog walk was associated with female owners (OR=4.7, 95%CI=1.2-18.5, P=0.03), dogs that lay on the sofa (OR=6.9, 95%CI=1.5-31.8, P=0.01), high levels of self-efficacy to walk the dog over the next month (OR=5.8, 95%CI=1.5-21.9, P=0.01), owner type with an attitude of high responsibility and enjoyment from walking (OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.2-3.8, P=0.02), and higher scores on a dog walking habit index (OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.0-3.7, P=0.05). Reporting someone else walks the dog was negatively associated with high intention (OR=0.1, 95%CI=0.0-0.7, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Interventions to promote dog walking may benefit from increasing intention to dog walk in male owners, forming schedules and routines that involve multiple household members in dog walking, and establishing habits around dog walking. Interventions may also need to address how to overcome barriers and perceived challenges in regards to self-efficacy of dog walking, that may prevent intention from being translated into action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carri Westgarth
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Robert M Christley
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
- Dogs Trust, London, UK
| | - Hayley E Christian
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Applebaum JW, Horecka K, Loney L, Graham TM. Pet-Friendly for Whom? An Analysis of Pet Fees in Texas Rental Housing. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:767149. [PMID: 34820439 PMCID: PMC8606550 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.767149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have underscored the difficulty low-income pet owners often face when attempting to secure affordable rental housing. Further exacerbating this housing disparity are fees charged on top of normal monthly rent to pet owners in “pet-friendly” rental housing. In this study, we aggregated rental housing listings from the twenty most populous cities in Texas, USA from a popular online rental database. We paired the rental listings with census tract information from the American Community Survey in order to investigate economic and racial/ethnic patterns in the spatial distribution of the properties. We find that less expensive pet-friendly listings were more likely to have pet fees charged on top of rent than rental units that were more expensive. Additionally, when pet fee burden was defined as a function of average income by census tract, low-income communities and communities of color were more likely than higher income and predominantly White communities to pay disproportionately higher fees to keep pets in their homes. We also find patterns of spatial inequalities related to pet fee burden by a metric of income inequality by city. The burden of pet rental fees may contribute to both housing insecurity and companion animal relinquishment. We discuss these findings as they relate to inequalities in housing, with particular attention to marginalized and disadvantaged people with pets. We conclude with recommendations for policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer W Applebaum
- Department of Sociology and Criminology and Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kevin Horecka
- Department of Research, Austin Pets Alive!, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Lauren Loney
- Humane Society of the United States, Austin, TX, United States
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9
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Vučinić M, Vučićević M, Nenadović K. The COVID-19 pandemic affects owners walking with their dogs. J Vet Behav 2021; 48:1-10. [PMID: 34690614 PMCID: PMC8527592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijana Vučinić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Animal Hygiene, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miloš Vučićević
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Equine, Small Animal, Poultry and Wild Animal Diseases, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Nenadović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Animal Hygiene, Belgrade, Serbia
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10
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Koohsari MJ, Shibata A, Ishii K, Kurosawa S, Yasunaga A, Hanibuchi T, Nakaya T, McCormack GR, Oka K. Dog ownership and adults' objectively-assessed sedentary behaviour and physical activity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17487. [PMID: 33060697 PMCID: PMC7562738 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74365-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests a positive effect of dog ownership on physical activity. However, most previous studies used self-reported physical activity measures. Additionally, it is unknown whether owning a dog is associated with adults’ sedentary behaviour, an emerging health risk factor. In this study, physical activity and sedentary behaviour were objectively collected between 2013 and 2015 from 693 residents (aged 40–64 years) living in Japan using accelerometer devices. Multivariable linear regression models were used, adjusted for several covariates. The means of total sedentary time and the number of long (≥ 30 min) sedentary bouts were 26.29 min/day (95% CI − 47.85, − 4.72) and 0.41 times/day (95% CI − 0.72, − 0.10) lower for those who owned a dog compared to those not owning a dog, respectively. Compared with non-owners, dog-owners had significantly higher means of the number of sedentary breaks (95% CI 0.14, 1.22), and light-intensity physical activity (95% CI 1.31, 37.51). No significant differences in duration of long (≥ 30 min) sedentary bouts, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity were observed between dog-owners and non-owners. A novel finding of this study is that owning a dog was associated with several types of adults’ sedentary behaviours but not medium-to-high-intensity physical activities. These findings provide new insights for dog-based behavioural health interventions on the benefits of dog ownership for reducing sedentary behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Javad Koohsari
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan. .,Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. .,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ai Shibata
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kaori Ishii
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan
| | - Sayaka Kurosawa
- Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Akitomo Yasunaga
- Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Bunka Gakuen University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Hanibuchi
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tomoki Nakaya
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Gavin R McCormack
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan.,Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Koichiro Oka
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan
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11
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Yin D, Gao Q, Zhu H, Li J. Public perception of urban companion animals during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Health Place 2020; 65:102399. [PMID: 32736203 PMCID: PMC7386851 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper responds to the increasing concern regarding the role of non-human life in shaping urban space by exploring the public perception of urban companion animals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China. We argue that the public's perception of urban companion animals during emerging infectious disease outbreaks is related to medical and life science issues and reflects the political, economic, and emotional struggles involved in human-animal multispecies cohabitation. We find that the public has mainly followed and reconstructed medical discourses about the risk of companion animal-to-human transmission and discussed sustainable ethical animal practices in urban public health emergency management during the COVID-19 outbreak. Concerns regarding the risk of companion animal-related infection reflect the increasing prominence of more-than-human families, the pet industry, and multispecies leisure conflicts in public space in Chinese cities. The public's attention to animal ethics has prompted Chinese policy makers to adopt a more morally acceptable model for urban public health emergency management that can be sustained and supported by responsible non-governmental organizations and ethical urban residents. Public's perception reflects the struggles involved in human-animal multispecies cohabitation. The public is concerned and fear the risk of companion animal-to-human transmission. Such concern and fear caused companion animals to experience tragic and caring experiences during the epidemic. The morally acceptable model of urban public health emergency management is prompted by the public's attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Yin
- School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Quan Gao
- Department of Geography, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
| | - Hong Zhu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Jie Li
- School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Brown BB, Jensen WA. Dog Ownership and Walking: Perceived and Audited Walkability and Activity Correlates. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041385. [PMID: 32098076 PMCID: PMC7068326 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Few studies assess dog ownership and walking with both self-reported or perceived and audited or objective walkability and physical activity measures. Across two years, we examined both types of walkability and activity measures for residents living within 2km of a “complete street”—one renovated with light rails, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Audited walkability (Irvine–Minnesota Inventory) was more consistently related to dog ownership and walking groups than perceived walkability (Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale—Abbreviated). Self-reported leisure walking was much higher (289–383 min per week) among dog walkers than among other groups (100–270 min per week), despite no difference in accelerometer-measured light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Furthermore, the most powerful difference between groups involved single-family detached home residence, which was much lower among non-dog-owners (44%) than among non-dog-walkers or dog walkers (81% and 70%, respectively). Given discrepancies across walkability and activity measures, we recommend future use of walkability audits and objectively measured physical activity over the current emphasis on self-report measures. We also urge greater attention to increased densities of housing, which may negatively affect dog ownership levels unless compensating supports for dog ownership and walking are created by public health messaging, dog-friendly policies, and dog-friendly housing and community design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara B. Brown
- Department of Family & Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Correspondence:
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