Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37777782›Full record

ArticleIrish veterinary journal2023

A mixed-method survey to understand the role of dog welfare organisations in Ireland, including reported challenges and potential solutions.

Claire McKernan, Catherine Lawler, Blain Murphy, Daniel M Collins, Simon J More, Sean Murray, Patricia Reilly, Rob Doyle, Natascha V Meunier, Aiden Maguire and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Irish veterinary journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Claire McKernanInstitute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland. c.mckernan@qub.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1985-8328
Catherine LawlerDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St, Dublin, D02 WK12, Ireland.
Blain MurphyInstitute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Daniel M CollinsUCD Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4365-6707
Simon J MoreUCD Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland. simon.more@ucd.ie.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4270-0385
Sean MurrayDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St, Dublin, D02 WK12, Ireland.
Patricia ReillyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St, Dublin, D02 WK12, Ireland.
Rob DoyleDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St, Dublin, D02 WK12, Ireland.
Natascha V MeunierAnimal Health Ireland, 4-5 The Archways, Carrick On Shannon, N41 WN27, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.
Aiden MaguireDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare St, Dublin, D02 WK12, Ireland.
Locksley L McV MessamSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5791-555X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis novel study forms part of a larger research programme seeking an improved understanding of aspects of the owned dog population in Ireland. Dog welfare organisations (DWOs) in Ireland are recognised as an instrumental pillar of the animal welfare sector with some receiving substantial public funding. We conducted a survey of DWOs in Ireland (n = 39) to gain a better understanding of their role and function, including their policies and procedures and the rehoming of dogs to other regions. In addition, we wanted to get a better understanding of the challenges experienced by DWOs in fulfilling their role and their perspectives on potential solutions to these challenges. The survey questions consisted of closed and open-ended items. Closed items were analysed quantitively; open-ended items were analysed thematically.

resultsMost DWOs (> 80%) had written protocols for important welfare actions including rehoming procedures, assessment of owner suitability and euthanasia. DWOs sent dogs to Northern Ireland (13%), Great Britain (38.5%) and to other countries outside the United Kingdom (36%, including Germany, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands and Czechia). Reported challenges included a general lack of funding, limited public awareness of the importance of dog welfare and insufficient capacity to handle dog numbers. To address these challenges, the DWOs highlighted the potential contribution of subsidised programmes and access to resources to educate potential owners. In a further qualitative evaluation to capture perceptions of appropriate solutions by DWOs, several themes emerged, relating to legislation, education, an overwhelmed workforce, and funding.

conclusionsThis study provides important insights into the roles and functions of DWOs and challenges they experience in Ireland. It is hoped that the findings from this research will inform future research investigating potential solutions to these challenges as well as the development of policy in Ireland.

Identifiers

PMID37777782
PMCPMC10542677

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.