Public perceptions of free-roaming dogs and cats in India and the United States

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of the sample by country of residence (n = 498).

	India (n = 210)	US (n = 288)
Characteristics	% (n)	% (n)
Gender
Male	23.9 (50)	10.8 (31)
Female	75.1 (157)	86.5 (249)
Non-binary	0 (0)	2.1 (6)
Prefer not to say	1.0 (2)	0.7 (2)
Age
18–24 years	38.1 (80)	13.5 (39)
25–34 years	33.8 (71)	31.3 (90)
35–44 years	12.9 (27)	15.3 (44)
45–54 years	6.7 (14)	16.7 (48)
55–64 years	6.7 (14)	15.6 (45)
65+ years	1.9 (4)	7.6 (22)
Education
High school or less	8.6 (18)	10.8 (31)
Undergraduate degree or diploma	41.4 (87)	45.1 (130)
Postgraduate or professional degree	50.0 (105)	44.1 (127)
Yearly household income
Up to RS. 2.49 lakh/$0–$19,999 USD	20.5 (43)	5.6 (16)
RS. 2.50–4.99 lakh/$20,000–$39,999 USD	15.7 (33)	12.5 (36)
RS. 5.00–7.49 lakh/$40,000–$59,999 USD	14.3 (30)	13.5 (39)
RS. 7.50–9.99 lakh/$60,000–$79,999 USD	9.0 (19)	9.4 (27)
RS. 10.00–12.49 lakh/$80,000–$99,999 USD	7.1 (15)	9.7 (28)
RS. 12.50–14.99 lakh/$100,000–$149,999 USD	6.2 (13)	19.1 (55)
> RS. 15 lakh/>$150,000	21.9 (46)	27.4 (79)
Prefer not to answer	5.2 (11)	2.8 (8)
Pet ownership history
Dog owner	39.5 (83)	41.3 (119)
Cat owner	13.8 (29)	16.3 (47)
Both dog and cat owner	14.3 (30)	33.7 (97)
Non-owner	31.9 (67)	8.3 (24)
Missing data	0.5 (1)	0.3 (1)

Bold text shows statistically significant differences between respondents from India and the United States (US) based on Pearson Chi-Square test (p < 0.05).

Table 2. Differences in perceptions of free-roaming animals by country of residence based on Mann-Whitney U tests (n = 498).

	Missing data	India	US		Z	P value
		Median (IQR)	Median (IQR)	U
Are free-roaming dogs community animals (Community animals live as members of the community and are cared for)?	12	1.00 (1.00–1.00)	4.00 (2.00–5.00)	51218.50	15.43	<0.01
Are free-roaming cats community animals (Community animals live as members of the community and are cared for)?	22	1.00 (1.00–2.00)	3.00 (2.00–4.00)	44526.00	12.36	<0.01
Do free-roaming dogs have a good life on the streets?	9	4.00 (4.00–5.00)	5.00 (4.00–5.00)	36871.00	5.60	<0.01
Do free-roaming cats have a good life on the streets?	23	4.00 (3.00–5.00)	4.00 (3.00–5.00)	28665.50	1.13	0.26
Should free-roaming dogs be allowed to roam?	9	1.00 (1.00–3.00)	5.00 (4.00–5.00)	51188.00	14.86	<0.01
Should free-roaming cats be allowed to roam?	20	2.00 (1.00–2.75)	4.00 (2.00–5.00)	43261.50	10.96	<0.01

Possible responses ranged from strongly agree (1) to strongly disagree (5). U shows test statistic and Z shows standardized test statistic from Mann-Whitney U tests comparing median responses between India and the United States (US). Bold text shows statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 3. Differences in concerns related to free-roaming animals based on country of residence (n = 498).

	India	US
	% (n)	% (n)	X^2	P value
Dogs
Spread disease/public health issue	32.9 (69)	66.7 (192)	55.66	<0.01
Dirty	19.0 (40)	12.8 (37)	3.57	0.06
Bite/scratch/attack/chase	44.8 (94)	60.4 (174)	11.98	<0.01
Fight amongst themselves – cause noise pollution	24.8 (52)	17.4 (50)	4.08	0.06
Animal welfare	60.5 (127)	93.4 (269)	80.84	<0.01
Impact on wildlife	10.0 (21)	37.2 (107)	46.89	<0.01
Damage to property	7.1 (15)	16.7 (48)	9.97	<0.01
No concerns	12.4 (26)	0.0 (0)	37.62	<0.01
Cats
Spread disease/public health issue	24.8 (52)	61.1 (176)	64.65	<0.01
Dirty	13.8 (29)	14.6 (42)	0.06	0.81
Bite/scratch/attack/chase	30.0 (63)	47.6 (137)	15.60	<0.01
Fight amongst themselves – cause noise pollution	15.7 (33)	19.9 (86)	13.37	<0.01
Animal welfare	56.2 (118)	85.8 (247)	54.26	<0.01
Impact on wildlife	9.0 (19)	55.6 (160)	114.09	<0.01
Damage to property	8.6 (18)	15.3 (44)	5.01	0.03
No concerns	16.2 (34)	1.4 (4)	37.75	<0.01

Data shown as % (n) of respondents who agreed with the concern. Pearson Chi-Square tests show differences between respondents who agreed with each concern between India and United States (US). Bold text shows statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 4. Spearman’s correlation between respondent’s concerns related to free-roaming dogs and cats (n = 498).

	Spread disease/public health	Dirty	Bite/scratch/attack/chase	Fight amongst themselves	Animal welfare	Impact on welfare	Damage to property	No concern
Dogs
Spread disease/public health	1.00
Dirty	0.24	1.00
Bite/scratch/attack/chase	0.46	0.26	1.00
Fight amongst themselves – cause noise pollution	0.14	0.32	0.25	1.00
Animal welfare	0.07	−0.09	0.01	−0.03	1.00
Impact on wildlife	0.27	0.12	0.19	0.12	0.22	1.00
Damage to property	0.28	0.24	0.28	0.21	0.04	0.43	1.00
No concerns	−0.23	−0.08	−0.22	−0.07	−0.40	−0.10	−0.04	1.00
Cats
Spread disease/public health	1.00
Dirty	0.32	1.00
Bite/scratch/attack/chase	0.46	0.31	1.00
Fight amongst themselves – cause noise pollution	0.24	0.27	0.39	1.00
Animal welfare	0.13	0.00	0.09	0.14	1.00
Impact on wildlife	0.32	0.08	0.24	0.25	0.24	1.00
Damage to property	0.28	0.32	0.26	0.35	0.06	0.25	1.00
No concerns	−0.23	−0.07	−0.21	−0.14	−0.41	−0.20	−0.06	1.00

Data show r_s. Bold text shows statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 5. Respondents’ perceptions of who is responsible for caring for free-roaming dogs and cats based on country of residence (n = 498).

	India	US
	% (n)	% (n)	X^2	P value
Vaccinate
Local people	62.4 (131)	43.1 (124)	18.15	<0.01
Caregiver	60.5 (127)	45.5 (131)	10.93	<0.01
Non-profits/NGOs	67.1 (141)	61.5 (177)	1.70	0.12
Veterinarians	32.4 (68)	35.1 (101)	0.39	0.53
Government	83.3 (175)	67.7 (195)	15.53	<0.01
No one	0.5 (1)	10.8 (31)	21.38	<0.01
Spay/neuter
Local people	56.7 (119)	42.4 (122)	9.95	<0.01
Caregiver	57.6 (121)	46.9 (135)	5.61	0.02
Non-profits/NGOs	69.5 (146)	65.6 (189)	0.84	0.36
Veterinarians	34.3 (72)	36.1 (104)	0.18	0.67
Government	81.4 (171)	67.7 (195)	11.74	<0.01
No one	0.5 (1)	9.4 (27)	18.12	<0.01
Care for injured animal
Local people	77.1 (162)	47.9 (138)	43.31	<0.01
Caregiver	71.4 (150)	48.3 (139)	26.76	<0.01
Non-profits/NGOs	72.9 (153)	66.7 (192)	2.19	0.14
Veterinarians	48.1 (101)	48.3 (139)	0.01	0.97
Government	67.6 (142)	54.9 (158)	8.25	<0.01
No one	0.0 (0)	9.7 (28)	21.63	<0.01

Data shown as % (n) of respondents who selected the group as a party who is responsible for providing the relevant animal services. Pearson Chi-Square tests show differences between respondents from India and United States (US). Bold text shows statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Figure 1. Respondents’ perceptions of the best strategy to reduce free-roaming animal populations in (a) United States (US) and (b) India.