Aspectos demográficos de la población de perros y gatos en la ciudad de Santiago, Chile

Abstract

With the purpose to obtain demographic data relative to size and composition of dog and cat populations of the city of Santiago, Chile, 9,414 questionnaire surveys to owner of houses, by selecting a stratified random sample proportional affixed to the size of the local unit, were made in each municipality of the city. The estimated total owned dog population was 1,117,192 dogs considering the number of dwellings according to the 2002 Census. 65% of the dogs are male and 35% females. Guarding of premises (77,1%) is the more frequent reason for keeping dogs. The average of dogs by house reaches to 0.7628 with a human to dog ratio of 6.4:1. The mean age of canine population is 3 years and 7 months. With respect to cats a total owned population of 518,613 cats was estimated according to the number of dwellings in the 2002 Census, with 57.5% of males and 42.5% of females. An average of 0.3541 cats by house and a human cat ratio of 14.7:1 were obtained. The mean age of the species is 2 years and 3 months. It is concluded that canine and feline populations in Santiago City can be considered young, with male predominante. It is estimated that canine population has increased in the last years, making narrower the human to dog ratio, specially owned to the guarding of premises as the use of the species.