Responsible Ownership Research Articles

MedVet ensina: ações de educação em saúde para promoção do bem-estar animal na cidade de Manaus

Health Education is the construction of learning, seeking to instruct society about public health and build opinions inherent to single health. The objective of this work was to promote actions on animal welfare, responsible ownership and control of zoonoses in order to train multipliers of this knowledge. After responding to a procedure to guarantee data on prior notions, students from public institutions in Manaus attended interactive lectures and received gifts for participating. 455 students participated (356 from elementary school, 99 from high school and college). A lack of knowledge was noted, evidencing the sacredness of projects that shape conscious generations, form humanized academics and awaken interaction with the community.

Impacts of Free-Ranging Dogs on a Community of Vertebrate Scavengers in a High Andean Ecosystem

Background and Research Aims Native vertebrate scavenger communities may be affected by free-ranging dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris), but little information is available on this subject. We aimed to evaluate the influence of free-ranging dogs on a community of native vertebrate scavengers and to propose management and conservation actions. Methods Between November 2014 and June 2016, we systematically monitored 37 ungulate carcasses in the buffer zone of Antisana National Park, Andes of Ecuador at an elevation range between 3000 and 4150 m asl. We monitored carcasses with camera traps operating 24 hours per day. Results We obtained 1010 independent events and recorded seven vertebrate scavenger species. Free-ranging dogs were present at carcasses for 40.39% of the total activity time, but the most frequently recorded species were the Andean fox ( Lycalopex culpaeus) and the Carunculated Caracara ( Phalcoboenus carunculatus). The scavenging birds were diurnal, the Andean fox was mostly nocturnal, and the free-ranging dogs were active in all periods of the day. Native scavenger species changed their peak of activity to times when the free-ranging dogs were less active, probably to avoid agonistic encounters. The presence of free-ranging dogs negatively influenced the number of independent events of the native species. Conclusion The presence of free-ranging dogs showed a negative relationship with the residence time and the number of independent events of native scavenging species. Furthermore, their presence modified the hour of the peak in the activity patterns of the scavenger community. Implications for Conservation The presence of free-ranging dogs may have important implications for the conservation of the Vulnerable Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus) in Ecuador. To achieve the conservation goals of native vertebrate scavengers, particularly of Andean Condors, it is necessary to develop environmental education programs, provide technical training in responsible dog ownership, and conduct campaigns to sterilize and control dogs.

Proceedings from the Second Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention, 2022: Creating a Sustainable Healthcare Coalition to Advance a Multidisciplinary Public Health Approach.

Proceedings from the Second Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention, 2022: Creating a Sustainable Healthcare Coalition to Advance a Multidisciplinary Public Health Approach.

Responsible ownership fostering green tech innovation

Carbfix, an Icelandic green tech pioneer, has attracted worldwide attention for its novel solution to fight climate change by capturing and storing CO2 safely in basalt rock and eliminating it from the atmosphere. This study explores how responsible ownership can drive innovative solutions to deal with climate change and foster a sustainable future. An exploratory case study using archival data was applied, which provided evidence of relationship between responsible ownership and sustainable technology commercialization. The results show that an effective ownership strategy strengthens a focus on the SDGs on climate action. The results demonstrate as well how responsible ownership produces an innovative green tech solution throughout a long-time horizon to address CO2 reduction and commercialization. This study’s originality is that it delves into the business facets of a green pioneer by exploring the relationship between owners and green tech innovation. The theoretical contribution is on advancing the literature on responsible ownership in innovation and technology for the transition to a sustainable future. Using grounded theory methodology to analyze the empirical data, it is concluded that owners practicing responsible ownership can overcome many of the barriers to bringing innovative green tech solutions to market.

Use of an extrapolation method to estimate the population of cats and dogs living at homes in Mexico in 2022

Cats and dogs have a very close relationship with humans. Currently, the overpopulation of these species in various countries worldwide has been identified as a severe public health problem. To establish effective programs for population control, it is necessary to estimate the number of cats and dogs. To our knowledge, there are no studies that assess the number of canine and feline population by state in Mexico. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the canine and feline population living at homes using official information reported by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics [Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática] through a constant-share model, a ratio extrapolation method. The estimated dog population living at homes was 42 625 010 dogs and 7 346 925 cats (at least 5.8 times less than the number of dogs). By 2022, the Mexico's estimated human:dog ratio was 2.4:1, and the human:cat ratio 17.6:1. The Estado de México had more than six million dogs and 962 177 cats. Colima had the smallest estimated dog population (245 489), and Baja California Sur the smallest estimated cat population (slightly over 30 000). Health authorities and veterinary practitioners should promote responsible ownership to increase veterinary care and control the birth of dogs and cats.

Sporotrichosis: A Review of a Neglected Disease in the Last 50 Years in Brazil

Sporotrichosis is caused by fungi belonging to the genus Sporothrix, which saprophytically are found in plants and organic matter. However, cats are highly susceptible to contamination with fungal spores and, when they become sick, they can transmit it to other animals and to man. The objective of this study is to carry out a systematic review on the emergency, diagnosis, clinical symptoms, therapeutics, and control of zoonotic sporotrichosis. Published data covering the last 50 years using a combination of keywords were selected to answer the question: Why has the zoonotic sporotrichosis been a neglected disease up to now? A total of 135 studies were included in this review. The studies emphasize that in recent decades, Brazil has experienced an unprecedented zoonotic outbreak of sporotrichosis. Advances on the genus Sporothrix allowed one to associate thermotolerance, capacity for melanin synthesis, potential for adhesion to tissue macromolecules, ergosterol peroxide production, and expression of virulence proteins as tools for infection and invasion in S. brasiliensis, the main species involved, although cases with S. schenckii or S. lurei were also reported. Correct diagnosis, early treatment, basic educational measures that emphasize responsible ownership of animals and reproductive control programs for felines can contribute to the control of zoonosis.

Assessing the impact of free-roaming dog population management through systems modelling

Free-roaming dogs can present significant challenges to public health, wildlife conservation, and livestock production. Free-roaming dogs may also experience poor health and welfare. Dog population management is widely conducted to mitigate these issues. To ensure efficient use of resources, it is critical that effective, cost-efficient, and high-welfare strategies are identified. The dog population comprises distinct subpopulations characterised by their restriction status and level of ownership, but the assessment of dog population management often fails to consider the impact of the interaction between subpopulations on management success. We present a system dynamics model that incorporates an interactive and dynamic system of dog subpopulations. Methods incorporating both fertility control and responsible ownership interventions (leading to a reduction in abandonment and roaming of owned dogs, and an increase in shelter adoptions) have the greatest potential to reduce free-roaming dog population sizes over longer periods of time, whilst being cost-effective and improving overall welfare. We suggest that future management should be applied at high levels of coverage and should target all sources of population increase, such as abandonment, births, and owners of free-roaming dogs, to ensure effective and cost-efficient reduction in free-roaming dog numbers.

Firm Misvaluation and Corporate Social Responsibility*

AbstractThis paper shows that overvalued firms have better performance in corporate social responsibility. Using hypothetical mutual fund outflow pressure, I establish causality from misvaluation to corporate social responsibility performance. Further analysis reveals that the effect of firm misvaluation on corporate social responsibility performance is stronger for firms with greater financial strengths, higher socially responsible investor ownership, higher long‐term institutional investor ownership, and during high corporate social responsibility sentiment periods. Overall, the results reveal the incentives of firms to engage in corporate social responsibility activities in overvaluation to cater to investors who prefer better corporate social responsibility performance.

Spay/neuter laws as a debated approach to stabilizing the populations of dogs and cats: An overview of the European legal framework and remarks

ABSTRACT To reduce the (over) population of unwanted companion non human animals, namely dogs and cats. They are used to lower negative impacts on human societies and on the animals themselves, and opting for the neutering status is usually considered a demonstration of “responsible ownership.” In Western countries, however, such provisions are not uniform and must increasingly be balanced with the recognition of animals as sentient beings with interests under the law. Furthermore, there is no consensus on whether routine neutering benefits both human and nonhuman parties, and the veterinary profession progressively claims the need for case-by-case management. Such premises make deciding how to manage companion animals’ reproductive lives legally challenging. The current work examines the European legal framework for companion animal protection and animal legal status after providing a brief overview of the global problem of overpopulation. Subsequently, the author discusses the main legal approaches to controlling companion animal reproduction, in European countries. Remarks about the legally binding option and on alternative approaches are provided, while highlighting the persistent need for appropriate and coherent European legislation.

Harvest Home. On the Social Responsibility Consciousness and Motivations of Family Business Wineries

Our research seeks to answer the question of what motivates a family business to fulfil ethical expectations of CSR. The stakeholder theory, the theory of socio-emotional wealth, and the theoretical framework of responsible ownership are relied upon to interpret the findings. The study covers two dimensions of CSR: the issues of social and environmental responsibility. The main contribution of the paper is that it provides an insight into the motivations behind different participant behaviours and the background of their decisions.

4 Conversion to an Online Delivery Method for the Tennessee Master Horse Program

Abstract Functional Extension programming for equine owners and business operators brings unique challenges when compared to other commodity producers. The initial Tennessee Master Horse Program (TMHP) curriculum and delivery method was modeled from other successful Extension programs using a county-based, in-person training model; however, implementation of county-level offerings of the TMHP for 4 years only yielded 218 participants. Thus, our objective was to pilot a new online program format for the TMHP and to assess participant feedback to dictate future programming efforts. Data were analyzed using STATA SE 16.1 and all results are reported as mean ± SD. The THMP was hosted by the state Equine Extension Program within the Google Classroom platform and contained 12 synchronous webinars with successive recordings, 3 scenarios for participant response, 10 question submission assignments, and 14 opportunities to explore outside resources pertaining to topic areas. Topics covered included responsible horse ownership, pasture management, nutrition, forages, waste management, health and diseases, economics, and equine training programs. Total participants (n = 201) from 12 states were reached, with 162 ± 29 (min=110, max=201) live attendees each week and 35 ± 4.1 (min=15, max=61) views per recorded YouTube video. During live sessions, 56 ± 18 (min=21, max=75) questions were asked and answered, and an additional 82 ± 35 (min=43, max=140) questions per week were submitted in the Google Classroom. In the final TMHP evaluation survey, 99% (n = 95) of respondents indicated they would recommend this training to others, which may be due to highly satisfactory ratings for speakers (4.54 ± 0.15 on a 1 to 5 scale, min=1, max=5) from participants. These results indicate a high acceptance rate among participants and that an online delivery method could be an effective approach for conducting and expanding the scope of future TMHP offerings.

The Debt Policy was affected by Institutional Ownership, Company Size, and Profitability at The Customer Goods Companies in Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the effect of institutional ownership, firm size and return on assets (ROA) on the policy of debt equity ratio (DER). The research method uses quantitative research methods with panel data to prove the hypothesis. The data is taken from the financial statements of consumer products companies in the 2016-2019 research period. The sample selection used purposive sampling method with certain criteria and obtained 15 companies or 60 observations. Based on data processing that has been done with Eviews ver.9 reveals that the institutional ownership affects significantly on the debt equity ratio policy, while company size and return on assets do not affect the debt equity ratio policy at all. The results of this study indicate how the strategic role of institutional shareholders in influencing the debt policy. The implications of the results of this study on consumer product companies are in selecting and determining competent and responsible institutional ownership in order to produce a DER policy that does not harm the company.

Responsible Ownership and Green Tech Innovation

Responsible Ownership and Green Tech Innovation

Zoonotic intestinal parasites in free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): a risk to public health in a Mexican Protected Area

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) have been in contact with humans for thousands of years, playing an important role in societies. Nonetheless, the lack of responsible ownership has contributed to the transition from companion dogs to free-ranging or feral dogs that can be reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. Our goal was to identify zoonotic intestinal parasites in free-ranging dogs in a Mexican Protected Area. A total of 132 scat samples from free-ranging dogs were collected and examined using the Faust flotation technique. We identified a total of nine parasite species, four platyhelminthes, and five nematodes. Eight of nine identified parasite are zoonotic. The most frequent zoonotic parasites are Ancylostoma caninum and Ascaris spp. (19.7% each) followed by Toxascaris leonina (17.4%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (7.6%). The least frequent are Dipylidium caninum (2.2%), Capillaria spp., Hymenolepis diminuta, and Hymenolepis nana (0.75% each). This study provides the first description of intestinal zoonotic parasites richness in free-ranging dogs within a Mexican Protected Area. The presence of zoonotic parasites in canine scats represents a high risk to public health, mainly for the transmission of some species through cutaneous and visceral migrans larvae, especially in infants and kids. We recommend specific measures to prevent, control and mitigate the presence of free-ranging dogs in Protected Areas.

Babesia canis Infection and its Associated Risk Factors Among Dogs in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria.

Epidemiological investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of canine babesiosis in Jere Local Government Area (LGA) from January 2020 to February 2021. Blood samples were collected from a total of 280 dogs, and the samples were evaluated for Babesia canis (B. canis) infection. The data obtained were analyzed to determine the prevalence of B. canis and the relationship of the infection to age, sex, breed, management practices, dog use and presence or absence of tick on the dogs was also ascertained. A total of 36 (12.8%) dogs tested positive for the infection in the study area. Twenty three (8.2%) males tested positive for B. canis while 13 (4.6%) of females were positive. According to age, 15 (5.3%) of young dogs were positive while 21 (7.5%) of adults were positive for the infection. The prevalence was significantly higher (P<0.05) in local breeds of dogs than in exotic and cross breeds. The prevalence was higher among stray dogs with tick infestation than those without tick infection. However, there was no significant differences (P<0.05) between age, and sex of the infected dogs. The present study recorded highest prevalence in dogs from Shagari and Gomboru wards, followed by Bulumkutu and University quarters, the least prevalence was seen in dogs in custom area. It was concluded that B. canis infection was prevalent in the study area and affect dogs irrespective of their age, sex, breed, management practices and locations. Therefore, regular treatment and responsible dog ownership were recommended.

Societal interest in puppies and the Covid-19 pandemic: A google trends analysis

Impulsive puppy purchases have always been problematic and national policies have been developed to discourage this by promoting responsible dog ownership and limiting third party sales. Public interest in puppies between 2018 and 2021 was analysed for five countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom and United States) using Google Trends data. The analysis revealed that societal interest in puppies increased during the examined period. The national Covid-19 pandemic response policies, including lockdowns, accelerated this trend significantly. An important result was that this trend was also present in German data. This suggests that national German policies relating to dog ownership, which are stricter than in other countries, and the associated costs have not deterred impulsive behaviours. Thus, this research provides evidence on how stricter policies on dog ownership may not be successful in discouraging impulsive behaviours and therefore, policymakers should focus on tackling illegal pet trade and on regulating online puppy purchases.

Abandonment of dogs in Latin America: Strategies and ideas.

In this article, we gathered information from postgraduate theses and scientific articles published in several databases using inclusion criteria that had been made in Latin America, in countries with similar economic conditions, and also in the USA to present a point of comparison. The objective of this review is to broaden the readers’ understanding of the causes of the increasing numbers of stray dogs and the reasons why people abandon pets in the streets, specifically in Latin America. It also discusses adoption and responsible ownership, identifies what failed in promoting positive human-dog interaction, and suggests strategies to address this problem. It concludes that adoption alone is not an effective solution but that it is necessary to offer education and awareness programs for owners, organize sterilization campaigns, and develop and apply – with the corresponding authorities – measures to ensure animal welfare that will provide benefits for society and improve animal quality of life. The role of veterinarians is fundamental in education and in disseminating the necessary information to orient people before they acquire a pet and prevent animal abandonment to resolve this problem.

Firearm Storage Practices of US Members of the American College of Surgeons

As a part of its firearm injury prevention action plan, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) surveyed the entire US ACS membership regarding individual members' knowledge, experience, attitudes, degree of support for ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) firearm programs, and degree of support for a range of firearm injury prevention policies. This survey included questions regarding members' prevalence of firearm ownership, type of firearm(s) owned, type of firearm(s) in the home, personal reasons for firearm ownership, and methods of firearm/ammunition storage. An email invitation to participate in an anonymous, 23-item survey on firearms was sent to all US ACS members (n= 54,761) by a contracted survey research firm. Cross tabulation of questionnaire items by demographic characteristics and chi-square analyses were performed with statistical significance p < 0.05. The overall response rate was 20.4% (11,147/54,761). Forty-two percent of respondents keep firearms in their home (82% long guns, 82% handguns; 32% high-capacity magazine fed, semi-automatic rifles); 75% keep guns for self-defense/protection, 73% for target shooting; 39% store firearms unlocked, and 32% store guns unlocked and loaded. Results vary by practice/training location, practice type, military experience, sex, age, presence of children in the home, level of training, and race/ethnicity. A significant percentage of ACS members keep firearms in their home, and nearly one-third store firearms in an unlocked and loaded fashion. Safe storage is a basic tenet of responsible firearm ownership. These data present opportunities for engaging surgeons in efforts to improve safe firearm storage.

Applying Responsible Ownership to Advance SDGs and the ESG Framework, Resulting in the Issuance of Green Bonds

This study aimed to contribute to the strand of literature encompassing governance, sustainability, and stakeholder theory by addressing an inchoate element of responsible ownership: collective action by different stakeholders. Our study’s originality rests on the introduction of an ownership strategy as a governance mechanism for collective action and responsible ownership in order to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework. Using a twofold empirical methodology—studying of archival data and qualitative case work—we provide empirical evidence from a case study of a Nordic energy company showing that applying an ownership strategy helped to strengthen the approach to SDGs and ESG while leading to positive benefits: in this case, the issuance of green bonds. Our theoretical contribution is the addressing of a gap in the literature exploring how an ownership strategy can be a uniting point for collective action, based on the hypothesis that an ownership strategy provides an important reinforcement of a “virtuous cycle”. Policymakers who are interested in promoting long-term commitment of different stakeholders with a focus on sustainability and improved agency should encourage the formulation of an ownership strategy that explains the owners’ commitment to the environment, social causes, and/or governance guidelines. Therein lies the practical contribution of this work. In this study, we found that an ownership strategy with these elements helped to strengthen the firm’s commitment to SDGs and ESG.

BACTERIAL, FUNGAL AND VIRAL ZOONOSES OF PETS

Today, pets are the source of numerous infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans, as a result of their increasingly frequent contact. The most important viruses with zoonotic potential include rabies and influenza viruses as well as rotaviruses and noroviruses. However, the importance of individual viruses varies depending on the climate and infectious disease control systems in certain countries. Dogs, cats, and other increasingly popular types of pets can transmit bacterial zoonotic agents to humans in various ways. In addition to known pathogens such as the bacteria causing leptospirosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, or brucellosis, the bacteria Pasteurella multocida and Bartonella henselae transmitted by bites or scratches are also significant in human pathology. There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in isolates originating from pets and the transmission of these strains between humans and animals requires special attention. Furthermore, fungi causing diseases such as sporotrichosis or dermatophytosis are linked to long-term and persistent infections in humans. The epidemiological situation caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the assumption of an interspecies jump of this virus from animals to humans, including its documented presence in domestic cats, dogs, tigers, and martens, have raised the question of the possibility of virus transmission from pets to humans. However, the current pandemic is caused exclusively by SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the human population, and these animals are not a source of infection for humans. A significant number of zoonoses originating from pets is a threat to public health, thus requiring the "One Health" approach through close cooperation between human and veterinary medicine to develop and implement effective health measures for both humans and animals. As part of responsible ownership, pet owners must be informed by veterinarians about measures to prevent infectious diseases and certain risks that are related to keeping certain species of animals.