Large Shelter Research Articles

Feasibility analysis of circular economy-based biogas plants for Indian cattle shelters

The present study evaluates the design and techno-economic potential of circular economy-based biogas plants for Indian cattle shelters for combined heat and power (CHP) and compressed biomethane gas (CBG) applications. The biodigester is designed based on available dung, and the economic performance is evaluated using the net present value (NPV) method. For small shelters (500 cattle), the framework showed an NPV of US $0.089 million for CHP and US $0.07 million for CBG. For large shelters (5000 cattle), the framework showed an NPV of US $2.78 million for CHP and US $2.80 million for CBG. Availability of dung, discount rate, and the market price of solid fertilizers significantly influence the NPV of the biogas plant. The GHG emission analysis shows that CHP application has lower emissions than CBG application, particularly for bigger plant. It is recommended to build biogas plants inside or near cattle shelters with a minimum dung availability of 2.25 t/day for both applications.

Animal Shelter Wastewater Sampling for Pathogens With Epidemic Potential

Canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), and Streptococcus zooepidemicus (S. zoo) represent a range of infectious agents that can cause epidemic disease in dogs, particularly those housed in animal shelters. Outbreaks of disease associated with these agents are relatively common in shelters, resulting in isolation, quarantine, euthanasia, and in some cases, shelter closure in efforts to manage the outbreak. In recent years, outbreaks of CDV and S. zoo have been particularly challenging for shelters in Arizona. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven useful in disease monitoring and outbreak prediction in human populations, including congregate locations, and we hypothesized that it may also be useful in surveillance and prediction for agents responsible for either gastrointestinal (GI) or respiratory disease in shelter animals. Our specific aims were to develop and validate a protocol for detecting infectious agents from wastewater samples collected from shelter run sections and to investigate associations with agent burden and counts of animals with clinical signs. Once protocols for sampling and preparation were optimized, environmental wastewater samples were collected weekly between November 2023 and April 2024 at a large open intake municipal animal shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. The samples were collected from seven drains located in seven run sections in three separate buildings, and were evaluated for the presence of the three agent nucleic acids using quantitative, multiplex PCR. The counts of dogs actively showing GI and respiratory symptoms, graded as mild, moderate, and severe, were collected the afternoon of the day of sampling. Biosafety committee approval was granted for the viruses in this study. Shedding of CPV was found to be widespread and variable over time. S. zoo was detected five times on five different weeks in five different run sections. CDV was found once. There were only six dogs reported with GI signs during the study period. Counts of respiratory disease ranged from 42-132 dogs per run section with most cases being mild in severity and reported in the isolation run section. There is no apparent association between counts of either respiratory or GI cases and the three agents detected through wastewater sampling. During the study there was a single incident of a S. zoo PCR positive dog being isolated and later dying at the shelter. S. zoo was detected through wastewater sampling the week prior to the incident, however, in a run section located in a different building than where the PCR positive dog was housed. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to develop protocols to detect critical pathogens in wastewater samples from an animal shelter. CPV has been the pathogen most frequently detected, which we speculate may be largely due to the shedding typically observed in dogs post-vaccination, given the absence of GI signs. Further investigation is warranted to better characterize the absence of amplifiable CDV nucleic acids and to examine these samples for other common shelter pathogens.

Dementia and mild cognitive impairment screening in an emergency homeless shelter.

Older adults represent the fastest growing segment of the homeless community. Little is known about the prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in this population. Dementia and MCI screening using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was incorporated into the standard senior evaluation for adult clients aged ≥ 55 in a large emergency homeless shelter. In a 6-week period, 104 of 112 (92.9%) assessments were positive for dementia or MCI using a standard cutoff of 26, and 81 (72.3%) were positive using a conservative cutoff of 23. There was no significant difference in MoCA scores based on sex or education level, and no significant correlation between age and MoCA score. Older adults experiencing homelessness may have a high likelihood of dementia or MCI. Routine MoCA screening in older adults experiencing homelessness is feasible and can help to identify services needed to successfully exit homelessness.

Factors Affecting the Likelihood of Dogs and Cats Returning to Their Owners at a Municipal Animal Shelter in the United States

Introduction: Animal shelters consider return-to-owner (RTO) as an ideal outcome for animals, owners, and shelters. Methods to increase RTO likelihood are frequently discussed by shelter professionals nationwide. Some of these methods are evidence-based, while others are anecdotally successful. This retrospective study aimed to provide evidence for commonly suggested methods, as well as identify additional factors influencing RTO likelihood. Methods: Data from 5,960 dog and 3,489 cat impounds were obtained from a large municipal animal shelter in Utah, USA. Directed acyclic graphs were developed to visualize causal assumptions, which were used to identify confounders for adjustment in the logistic regression while modeling the associations between study variables and RTO outcomes for both dogs and cats. Results: Dogs and cats with microchips, older animals, healthy animals, neutered animals, and animals brought to the shelter via another public agency were more likely to return to their owners. Animal sex and season of impound did not affect either dogs’ or cats’ RTO likelihood. Conclusion: The characteristics influencing RTO likelihood were similar for both dogs and cats. These influences provide support for existing shelter practices, such as facilitating widespread microchipping and waiving reclamation fees, while also encouraging implementation of new practices, such as modifying stray hold periods based on source type or health status. Limitations of the study included the presence of incomplete information in the database and concerns with the generalizability of results to other shelters.

Use of canisterapy in the rehabilitation treatment of children

The article analyzes methods of treatment and rehabilitation using dog therapy for children evacuated from the combat zone to Bukovina. Animal therapy is one of the types of therapy that includes the use of animals as a means of treatment. The goal of such therapy is to improve the patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functions. One of the methods of positive psychosocial and physical rehabilitation influence on people who need it, through specially managed and trained dogs, is canister therapy. There are several types of canister therapy in the world. The presence of a dog reduces psychological and physiological excitement, thus the shaggy therapist has a stabilizing effect on the patient. Canister therapy is also used as an auxiliary psychotherapeutic method to solve various situations when other methods are ineffective or unsuitable. Since special norms and requirements for animal treatment have not yet been developed in Ukraine, and specialists work exclusively according to the protocol of the World Organization for Canister Therapy and cynology. In the field of rehabilitation, work’s not certified specialists, but certified ones who have passed first-level canister therapy courses, under the guidance of Polish specialists according to international EU standards, who are valid members of the International Association of the Human-Animal Interaction Organization. There is a system of training dogs, testing them and admitting them to work in addition to the training of a rehabilitator, Since the full-scale invasion, the “City of Goodness” has sheltered more than 3,000 people, currently housing 320 wards. Among them are three evacuated children's boarding schools from Odesa and Mykolaiv regions. Today it is the largest shelter in Ukraine. “City of Goodness” provides everyone with individual support, depending on their needs. The war made adjustments to the way of life for all of us - we have to live, work and take care of each other in unusual conditions.

Creating and supervising expressive arts groups for migrant families on the Mexican border

Voces, a coalition of volunteer expressive arts therapists, created a one-year programme for Central American migrants at a large Mexican shelter on the US border during 2020–21. A team of four psychosocial professionals at the shelter were trained via an online course and weekly self-care and supervision. Two Hispanic members of Voces guided the team in using music, dance, role-play, stories and art to help address the high levels of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression shown by the evaluations of 900 migrants waiting up to a year for US entry. The Voces members guided shelter professionals to create expressive arts groups for different ages of children and for parents. With scarce materials, online resources like Pixar/Disney shorts and Pinterest posters, culturally relevant music and cartoons were used to address emotional regulation, conflict resolution, attachment and self-concept.

Incidence, Seroprevalence, and In-shelter Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Cats

Cats are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and can transmit the virus to humans. Experimentally infected cats shed virus for 5-10 days and generate antibodies within 7 days, while naive cats cohoused with these cats shed virus orally within 24 hours. Shelters intake cats from SARS-CoV-2 endemic communities and house them in close proximity, creating the opportunity for shelter-acquired disease. Shelter cat populations could serve as a reservoir for the virus, where it might mutate and spill back into human populations. This study aimed to determine the incidence and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats housed in a shelter. Cats over 1 kg undergoing anesthesia between April and December 2020 in a large shelter were enrolled in the study using convenience sampling. Pharyngeal, conjunctival, and serum samples were collected. The pharyngeal/conjunctival swabs were analyzed by Real-Time PCR using N1 and N2 probes derived from the virus's nucleocapsid protein (N) portion. One sample positive for N1 within the 40 cycles specified by CDC protocol but only positive for N2 after 41 cycles (late rise) was sequenced. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was assessed using the cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit. During the study period, 7,179 cats entered the shelter, and 350 were sampled. Most sampled cats were owner surrender (45%) or stray (43%), which was different (P<0.0001) from the overall population (26% owner surrender and 64% stray). Seven (2%) samples were PCR positive (95%CI 0.8-4.0%), 199 (57%) were negative, and 144 (41%) were inconclusive. Of the inconclusive samples, 85 (59%) were positive for N1 but negative for N2. The median length of stay before sampling (LOSBS) was 4 days (IQR 1-10) for all sampled cats and 13 days (IQR 5-22) for PCR-positive cats. Of the 131 serum samples tested to date, 11 (8%) were positive (95%CI 4.3-14.5). The median LOSBS for antibody-positive cats was 5 (IQR 1-5; range 1-8). One positive cat with a LOSBS of 5 days was PCR and antibody positive. The cat with a sequenced sample had a LOSBS of 13 days, was antibody negative, and had both base pair deletions and substitutions in the N2 target probe region. Consistent with in-shelter transmission, the median LOSBS for cats positive by PCR was greater than the documented SARS-CoV-2 infectious period. All but one of the seropositive cats had a LOSBS of 5 days or less, suggesting the previous infection was community-acquired. The sequenced sample was credibly from a shelter-acquired infection, and the base pair deletions and substitutions were consistent with a feline-specific strain circulating in the shelter.

Moderate relative size of covered and non-covered structures of artificial reef enhances the sheltering effect on reef fish

Identifying the relationship between fish aggregations and artificial reefs (ARs) is important for optimizing reef structures and protecting marine resources subjected to external disturbance. Yet, knowledge remains limited of how the distribution of fish is affected by shelter availability provided by different AR structures. Here, we tested the effects of two structural attributes on the distribution of a benthic juvenile reef fish (fat greenling, Hexagrammos otakii). We used a laboratory mesocosm experiment with a simplified reef unit that was made of covered structure and non-covered structure. The covered structure was defined as the area inside ARs that provided effective shelter. The non-covered structure was defined as the area along the edge of ARs, which attracts fish but has lower sheltering effects. Four scenarios of two orthogonal structural attributes contained in a reef unit were implemented: size of covered structure (small shelter versus large shelter) and size of non-covered structure (small edge versus large edge), forming three size ratios of shelters to edges (low, medium, and high). The sheltering effects of the four scenarios were evaluated based on changes to the distribution patterns of fish under disturbance. We found that the reef with a large shelter had a better sheltering effect than the reef with a small shelter, but was limited by its small edge, especially when fish density was high. In contrast, the sheltering effect of the reef with a small shelter was limited by its large edge compared to the small edge. Thus, a moderate shelter-edge ratio enhanced the ability of juvenile fat greenling to elude external disturbance. Our findings highlight the importance of quantifying how the structural composition of reefs affects fish distributions, providing guidance to optimize AR structures.

Effects of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep on sleep quality and mental health among patients with COVID-19 treated in Fangcang shelter hospitals.

With the COVID-19 pandemic in China, a large number of mild or ordinary confirmed cases have been sent to Fangcang shelter hospitals for treatment. We aimed to investigate the mental health condition of Fangcang patients 2 years after the pandemic when patients knew more about COVID-19 and the virus was less virulent. We focused on the effect of dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep on depression, anxiety, and insomnia. A total of 1,014 patients from two large Fangcang shelter hospitals in Shanghai between 22 April and 8 May 2022 completed a set of questionnaires comprising: the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Insomnia Severity Index scale. Results show that the positive screening rates for anxiety, depression, and insomnia among tested patients were 55.3, 27.0, and 47.8%, respectively. Patients were more likely to report higher anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and to endorse affective and sleep disorders if they were: female, aged 18-40 years, with undergraduate course or above, white-collar employees, or those who thought the pandemic would have severe economic effects. About 51.4% of the participants had dysfunctional beliefs about sleep to varying degrees. Compared with patients who had accurate beliefs about sleep, the ratios of insomnia, anxiety, and depression were significantly higher among patients with dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. Attention should be paid to the mental health problems of patients in Fangcang shelter hospitals. The results indicate that dysfunctional beliefs about sleep significantly increased anxiety, depression, and insomnia of Fangcang patients.

Psychosocial crisis intervention for coronavirus disease 2019 patients and healthcare workers.

Shelter hospital was an alternative way to provide large-scale medical isolation and treatment for people with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to various reasons, patients admitted to the large shelter hospital was reported high level of psychological distress, so did the healthcare workers. This study aims to introduce a comprehensive and multifaceted psychosocial crisis intervention model. The psychosocial crisis intervention model was provided to 200 patients and 240 healthcare workers in Wuhan Wuchang shelter hospital. Patient volunteers and organized peer support, client-centered culturally sensitive supportive care, timely delivery of scientific information about COVID-19 and its complications, mental health knowledge acquisition of non-psychiatric healthcare workers, group activities, counseling and education, virtualization of psychological intervention, consultation and liaison were exhibited respectively in the model. Pre-service survey was done in 38 patients and 49 healthcare workers using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire 2-item (PHQ-2) scale, and the Primary Care PTSD screen for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (PC-PTSD-5). Forty-eight healthcare workers gave feedback after the intervention. The psychosocial crisis intervention model was successfully implemented by 10 mental health professionals and was well-accepted by both patients and healthcare workers in the shelter hospital. In pre-service survey, 15.8% of 38 patients were with anxiety, 55.3% were with stress, and 15.8% were with depression; 16.3% of 49 healthcare workers were with anxiety, 26.5% were with stress, and 22.4% were with depression. In post-service survey, 62.5% of 48 healthcare workers thought it was very practical, 37.5% thought more practical; 37.5% of them thought it was very helpful to relief anxiety and insomnia, and 27.1% thought much helpful; 37.5% of them thought it was very helpful to recognize patients with anxiety and insomnia, and 29.2% thought much helpful; 35.4% of them thought it was very helpful to deal with patients' anxiety and insomnia, and 37.5% thought much helpful. Psychological crisis intervention is feasible, acceptable, and associated with positive outcomes. Future tastings of this model in larger population and different settings are warranted.

Microbial community response to drought depends on crop

Growing season drought can be devastating to crop yields. Soil microbial communities have the potential to buffer yield loss under drought through increasing plant drought tolerance and soil water retention. Microbial inoculation on agricultural fields has been shown to increase plant growth, but few studies have examined the impact of microbial inoculation on plant and soil microbial drought tolerance. We conducted a rainout shelter experiment and subsequent greenhouse experiment to explore 3 objectives. First, we evaluated the performance of a large rainout shelter design for studying drought in agricultural fields. Second, we tested how crop (corn vs. soybean) and microbial inoculation alter the response of soil microbial composition, diversity, and biomass to drought. Third, we tested whether field inoculation treatments and drought exposure altered microbial communities in ways that promote plant drought tolerance in future generations. In our field experiment, the effects of drought on soil bacterial composition depended on crop type, while drought decreased bacterial diversity in corn plots and drought decreased microbial biomass carbon in soybean plots. Microbial inoculation did not alter overall microbial community composition, plant growth, or drought tolerance despite our efforts to address common barriers to inoculation success. Still, a history of inoculation affected growth of future plant generations in the greenhouse. Our study demonstrates the importance of plant species in shaping microbial community responses to drought and the importance of legacy effects of microbial inoculation.

Early identification of a COVID-19 outbreak detected by wastewater surveillance at a large homeless shelter in Toronto, Ontario

SettingToronto (Ontario, Canada) is a large urban centre with a significant population of underhoused residents and several dozen shelters for this population with known medical and social vulnerabilities. A sizeable men’s homeless shelter piloted a facility-level SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance program.InterventionWastewater surveillance was initiated at the shelter in January 2021. One-hour composite wastewater samples were collected twice weekly from a terminal sanitary clean-out pipe. The genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was extracted from the solid phase of each sample and analyzed using real-time qPCR to estimate the viral level. Wastewater results were reported to facility managers and Toronto Public Health within 4 days.OutcomesThere were 169 clients on-site at the time of the investigation. Wastewater surveillance alerted to the presence of COVID-19 activity at the site, prior to clinical detection. This notification acted as an early warning signal, which allowed for timely symptom screening and case finding for shelter managers and the local health unit, in preparation for the declaration of an outbreak.ImplicationsWastewater surveillance acted as an advanced notification leading to the timely deployment of enhanced testing prior to clinical presentation in a population with known vulnerabilities. Wastewater surveillance at the facility level is beneficial, particularly in high-risk congregate living settings such as shelters that house transient populations where clinical testing and vaccination can be challenging. Open communication, established individual facility response plans, and a balanced threshold for action are essential to an effective wastewater surveillance program.

Developing and evaluating a SAFER model to screen for diabetes complications among people experiencing homelessness: a pilot study protocol

BackgroundDiabetes management combined with housing instability intersects, forcing individuals to triage competing needs and critical stressors, such as safety and shelter, with fundamental diabetes self-management tasks like attending healthcare appointments to screen for the complications of diabetes, leaving individuals overwhelmed and overburdened. We aim to address this disjuncture found within our current healthcare delivery system by providing point-of-care screening opportunities in a more patient-centered approach.MethodWe describe a pilot study of a novel clinical intervention which provides timely, comprehensive, and accessible screening for diabetes complications to people experiencing homelessness. We will assess the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance, as per the RE-AIM framework, of a SAFER model of care (i.e., screening for A1C, feet, eyes, and renal function). A trained nurse will provide this screening within a homeless shelter. During these encounters, eligible participants will be screened for microvascular complications (neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy) and have their A1C measured, all at the point of care, using bedside tools and novel technology. Effectiveness, our primary objective, will be evaluated using a pre-post design, by comparing the rate of completion of full microvascular screening during the study period with individuals’ own historical screening in the 2-year period prior to enrollment. The other domains of the RE-AIM framework will be assessed using process data, chart reviews, patient surveys, and qualitative semi-structured interviews with service providers and participants. This study will be conducted in a large inner-city homeless shelter within a major urban Canadian city (Calgary, Canada).DiscussionCurrently, screening for diabetes complications is often inaccessible for individuals experiencing homelessness, which places heavy burdens on individuals and, ultimately, on already strained emergency and acute care services when complications go undetected at earlier stages. The SAFER intervention will modify the current standard of care for this population in a way that is less fragmented, more person-focused, and timely, with the goal of ultimately improving the rate of screening in an acceptable fashion to identify those requiring specialist referral at earlier stages.

Pharmacists serve displaced Ukrainians on medical mission to Poland

Pharmacists and Touro College of Pharmacy faculty members Anastasiya Shor, PharmD, and Dipan Ray, PhD, RPh, recently completed a medical mission through International Medical Relief to Warsaw, Poland, where they spent a week caring for displaced Ukrainians in a 24-hour clinic at a large shelter. We asked them to tell us about it.

Multiple blood pathogen infections in apparently healthy sheltered dogs in southern Thailand

ABSTRACT In developing countries such as Thailand, free-ranging dogs are frequently involved in road accidents and contribute to the cost of public healthcare. Shelters play a vital role in communities because they help to control the population of unwanted and free-ranging dogs. This study aimed to investigate blood pathogen infection in sheltered dogs, as it is one of the factors contributing to animal welfare. Blood samples were randomly collected from 141 dogs from the largest shelter (approximately 400–500 dogs in total) in southern Thailand. Blood pathogens were detected using both PCR and light microscopy. Four blood pathogens were identified: Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis. No trypanosomes were detected. The incidence of blood parasite infection was 56.7% (80/141) by PCR, and 28.4% (40/141) by microscopy. E. canis was the most prevalent pathogen, accounting for 46.1% (65/141) of the cases, while multiple infections accounted for 22% (31/141) of the cases. A triple infection with E. canis, A. platys, and B. canis vogeli was observed in 5.7% (8/141) of the cases. Although PCR is far more sensitive than microscopy, it appears to have equivalent specificity. In conclusion, this study reported a high occurrence of blood pathogen infections in clinically healthy sheltered dogs. Many of them were infected with multiple pathogens and may have been infected before entering the shelter. These findings suggest that a blood test is necessary to screen dogs prior to their admission to the shelter to prevent disease transmission and enhance animal welfare.

Rural-Urban Migration, Childbearing Decision-Making, Fertility and Contraceptive Perspectives of Street Adolescents and Youth in Kampala, Uganda.

IntroductionThis paper aims to describe and assess social demographic factors associated with childbearing decision-making, fertility and contraceptive intentions among street adolescents and youth in Kampala, Uganda while considering rural-urban migration as an explanatory factor.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 513 adolescents and youth aged 12–24 years self-identifying as street adolescents and youth were interviewed with a structured questionnaire in 2019. Street adolescents and youth who migrated from other rural districts to Kampala were compared with those from the city. Logistic regression was performed to assess associations between the independent factors and personal childbearing decision-making, fertility and contraceptive intentions.ResultsOverall, 80.31% of the street adolescents and youth had a rural-urban migration experience. Fifty six percent (56.32%) of the street adolescents and youth made personal childbearing decisions, 94.15% expressed intentions to have children in the future and 42.88% expressed intentions to use contraceptives in the future. Intentions to use contraceptives were significantly higher among males (58.75%) than females (20.00%), and higher among migrants (65.91%) compared to non-migrants (34.09%). Contraceptive intentions were positively associated with self-perceived permanent residential status (aOR = 10.26, 2.70–39.08), intra-urban mobility (aOR = 4.99, 95%CI 1.50–6.59) and intentions to migrate to other towns within the country (aOR = 5.33, 95%CI 1.59–17.80). Being married (aOR = 0.13, 95%CI 0.02–0.85), a large shelter population size (aOR = 0.13, 95%CI 0.03–0.63) and having repeat migrations between the city and home district (aOR = 0.23, 95%CI 0.05–0.94), including migration-associated challenges reduced the odds of street youth's personal childbearing decision-making, while belonging to a social support group increased the odds of childbearing decision-making. We found no significant association between social demographic characteristics and fertility intentions.DiscussionFactors that influenced personal childbearing decision-making and contraceptive intentions among street adolescents and youth in Kampala operate mainly at the interpersonal and community levels, with marital status, shelter population size, rural-urban migration and its associated challenges associated with childbearing decision-making. Interventions to promote childbearing decision-making and contraceptive use among street adolescents and youth should take into consideration their migration and intra-urban mobility patterns.

A zoo visitor effect as a factor of animal welfare in the case of lions <i>Panthera leo</i> (Linnaeus, 1758)

The paper is devoted to the study of the influence of visitors (a visitor effect) on the behavior of lions Panthera leo in three Russian zoos (Moscow, Yaroslavl and Sochi). Large aviary and shelters availability have been shown to be important factors of animal welfare. This allows the animals to independently regulate the level of stimulation from zoo visitors. All animals changed their behavior with an increase in the number of visitors near the enclosures. At the same time, the trends of this dynamics differed. Thus, in the Yaroslavl and Moscow zoos, where animals were kept in large enclosures, lions did not show stereotypical behavior, the presence of visitors aroused interest of animals and an increase in their motor activity was observed. In the Sochi zoo, lions were kept in a small enclosure, these animals showed stereotypical behavior, the level of which increased in the presence of zoo visitors. In the temporary budgets of lions in the Yaroslavl (average 82,3%) and Moscow (average 87,5%) zoos, inactive forms of behavior prevailed, while in the Sochi zoo stereotyped activity (average 46,9%).

Returning a Shelter Dog: The Role of Owner Expectations and Dog Behavior

Simple SummaryMost dog adopters are typically highly satisfied with dog ownership, although a number of adopted dogs are returned to animal shelters following adoption, which can be stressful for the owner and the dog. In this study, we looked at adopters’ expectations for dog ownership prior to adoption and their experience with dog behavior in the first days, weeks, and months following adoption relative to the risk of return. We found owners who returned their dog to the shelter within three months of adoption had higher expectations for their dog to be healthy, exhibit desirable behavior, and for the human–dog bond compared with adopters who did not return their dogs. There were no differences in expectations for ownership responsibilities and challenges between returning and non-returning owners. We also found two-thirds of owners experienced some behavioral problems following adoption, although behaviors such as training difficulty and fear decreased over time. Our findings may be useful for animal shelters to reduce returns by ensuring adopters have realistic expectations about the human–dog relationship and the occurrence of behavioral problems.Millions of animals are adopted from animal shelters in the United States each year, although some are returned post-adoption, which can decrease both the animals’ chances of future adoptions and the owners’ willingness to adopt again. In this study, we investigated the impact of adopter expectations for ownership and animal behavioral problems on post-adoptive dog returns at a large animal shelter in South Carolina. Between June–September 2021, 132 dog adopters completed a survey about their expectations for ownership through Qualtrics. Twenty-nine adopters returned their dogs to the shelter within three months of adoption, with a median length of ownership of eight days. Owners completed follow-up questionnaires about their perceptions of adoption and dog behavior at two days, two weeks, and four months post-adoption. Categorical principal component analysis revealed three factors pertaining to adopters’ expectations for ownership. Independent t-tests showed returning owners had significantly higher expectations for dog behavior and health (t = −2.32, p = 0.02) and the human–dog bond compared with non-returning owners (t = −2.36, p = 0.02). Expectations for ownership responsibilities did not differ between the groups. Two-thirds of adopters experienced dog behavioral problems post-adoption, although training difficulty decreased significantly between two days and four months (F = 5.22, p = 0.01) and nonsocial fear decreased between two weeks and four months post-adoption (X2 = 10.17, p = 0.01). Shelters may benefit from utilizing adoption counselling to ensure adopters understand the potential for dog behavioral problems in the early stages of ownership and develop appropriate expectations for the human–dog relationship. Post-adoption behavioral support may also help some owners to overcome behavioral difficulties as their dogs adapt to the new environment.

Transmission Dynamics of Large Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Homeless Shelter, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 2020.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential for rapid transmission in congregate settings. We describe the multidisciplinary response to an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a large homeless shelter in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The response to the outbreak included 4 rounds of mass PCR testing of all staff and residents and subsequent isolation of persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We further describe the dynamics of the shelter outbreak by fitting a modified susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered compartmental model incorporating the widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing and isolation measures implemented in this shelter. Our model demonstrates that rapid transmission of COVID-19 in the shelter occurred before the outbreak was detected; rates of transmission declined after widespread testing and isolation measures were put in place. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of mass PCR testing and isolation in congregate settings and suggest the necessity of prompt response to suspected COVID-19 outbreaks in homeless shelters.

ПРОТИВОВИРУСНЫЕ ПРЕПАРАТЫ И ИХ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ПРИ ЛЕЧЕНИИ КАЛЬЦИВИРОЗА КОШЕК

Calicivirus disease of cats is widespread in the world. Members of the Felidae family are the only hosts susceptible to FCV infection. The prevalence of FCV is directly related to the number of cats present in the kennel, and is higher in large groups, for example, in colonies and shelters, where it can reach from 25 to 40%. Currently, it is relevant to study the frequency of manifestation and distribution areas of this animal disease, the search for antiviral drugs that are effective against the causative agent of calicivirus infection in cats to optimize therapeutic measures. The virus is able to cause lesions on its own, without the presence of bacteria, and a secondary bacterial infection enhances the effect of the virus, promotes its penetration into deeper parts of the respiratory tract, leading to the development of pneumonia, or chronic rhinitis, sinusitis or conjunctivitis. The development of effective methods for the treatment of calicivirus infection in cats is one of the promising areas of veterinary science and practice. The article presents the results of studies obtained in assessing the effectiveness of the use of antiviral and immunostimulating drugs from various manufacturers: "Fosprenil" (CJSC "Micro-plus", Russia), "Maksidin" (CJSC "Micro-plus", Russia), "Feliferon" (BIOINVEST, Russia). The use of the proposed immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs in the scheme of complex therapy of calicivirus infection in cats had a positive effect on the activation of certain stages of immune protection. Based on the conducted studies, it was found that the most effective method of treating calicivirosis in cats is the use of the drug "Feliferon" intramuscularly 200,000 IU, 1 time a day, 5 days in the complex therapeutic scheme.