Dog Breeding in New Providence, The Bahamas, and Its Potential Impact on the Roaming Dog Population I: Planned and Accidental
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2010 |
Authors: |
William J. Fielding |
Publication/Journal: |
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science |
Keywords: |
bahamas, dogs, pet overpopulation, puppies |
ISBN: |
1088-8705 |
Abstract:
This article reports the first known study on dog breeding in an Afro-Caribbean community. The study obtained the information on 517 matings through interviews with dog caregivers. Few litters (6.8%) from mongrels (potcakes) resulted from planned matings, whereas 66.5% of matings between purebred dogs were planned. Confinement of the female is often inadequate, and roaming dogs may have been responsible for 24.8% of the litters. The lack of confinement of potcakes has resulted in the perception that potcakes are “responsible” for the companion animal (pet) overpopulation problem; however, potcakes made up the minority (29.4%) of the breeding females. Until regulations concerning dog breeding are introduced, caregivers can be expected to continue exploiting their nonhuman animals to supplement their incomes from the sale of puppies. A consequence of unregulated breeding may also be inbred offspring of “purebred” dogs as few self-styled “professional” breeders appeared to use dogs who were not their own.