An exploratory analysis of the development and implementation of urban animal welfare policy in public spaces for four common species: Cats, dogs, pigeons, and foxes in the Brussels Capital Region

ABSTRACT

This study aims to understand urban animal welfare policy development and implementation for four species in public spaces: cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis familiaris), pigeons (Columbia livia domestica), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Our exploratory research offers an overview of the perspectives of all involved municipal and police officers and their challenges in a metropolitan urban context, the Brussels Capital Region in Belgium. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 participants from 19 municipalities and six police zones of the region. Additionally, we organized two focus groups consisting of representatives from municipalities, police zones, and nongovernmental organizations. Afterward, we analyzed the data thematically, leading to the identification of six policy and six practice recommendations. These recommendations can help advance the notion of urban animal welfare for the four species from a multispecies perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban animal welfare
• multispecies
• city
• cohabitation
• police

Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Franck Meijboom, Prof. Frank Tuyttens, and Prof. Benjamin Wayens for their engaging preliminary discussions on this paper. We greatly appreciate Prof. Nicolas Delon’s review of his framework on pervasive captivity applied in this study. We highly value Claudia Hirtenfelder’s work in creating and maintaining the podcast The Animal Turn (https://www.theanimalturnpodcast.com/), which is a useful resource for studying animals in society.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Leefmilieu Brussel, Departement Dierenwelzijn [Environment Brussel, Department Animal Welfare] under public contract [2020H0071].

Notes on contributors

Ciska De Ruyver

Ciska De Ruyver is a researcher in animal ethics. She focuses on the ethical aspects of how humans cohabitate with animals in urban spaces and the welfare of urban animals.

Karin Hannes

Karin Hannes is professor in social sciences. She specializes in meta-synthesis and innovative research methodology, including arts-based, multisensory, place-based research practice and systematic reviews.

Christel P. H. Moons

Christel P. H. Moons is professor in applied ethology and animal welfare. She coordinates and conducts research and teaching on behavior and welfare of animals.

Claire Diederich

Claire Diederich is professor in ethology of domestic and laboratory animals and specialist in animal welfare, ethics and law. She conducts research to advance our understanding of animal behavior, with a special focus on human-animal interactions.