Gonçalo da Graça Pereira

Dog tethering persists as a common management practice despite growing evidence of its negative welfare implications and increasing legislative recognition of animal sentience. Yet public support for its criminalization remains understudied. This study assessed public attitudes towards the criminalization of permanent dog tethering in Portugal and identified independent predictors of pro-criminalization attitudes. An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was administered to a sample of Portuguese adults. Of 471 respondents, 41.2% endorsed unconditional criminalization, 48.0% endorsed conditional criminalization, and 10.8% opposed it, with 9 in 10 respondents endorsing some form of legal prohibition. Anger upon witnessing a tethered dog was the dominant independent predictor of pro-criminalization attitude (OR = 81.06, 95% CI 6.56–1001.48) and of unconditional criminalization specifically. Affirming canine sentience independently predicted unconditional criminalization. The association between sex and pro-criminalization attitude was attenuated and became non-significant after controlling for emotional responses, consistent with, though not establishing, a relationship between sex and emotional reactivity. Although 81.7% of respondents considered tethering to constitute animal mistreatment, only 21.0% of the total sample had previously reported or intervened, though this figure rose to 48.1% among the subset of participants with local awareness of tethered dogs. Public support for criminalizing dog tethering was more strongly associated with emotional responses, particularly anger, than with the demographic or cognitive variables included in the models. These findings highlight the role of emotional engagement in shaping public concern for canine welfare and underscore the relevance of the human–animal bond to forensic and legislative responses to tethering.

Background/Objectives: Dog tethering remains a common containment practice in several regions despite increasing concerns about its implications for animal welfare. This study aimed to assess veterinary professionals’ perceptions in Portugal about the impact of dog tethering on canine health, behavior, and welfare, as well as their views on its regulation. Methods: An anonymous, structured questionnaire was distributed online to veterinary professionals to collect data on clinical exposure to chained dogs, observed health and behavioral outcomes, and attitudes toward criminalizing the practice. Results: A total of 331 veterinarians participated, of whom 71.9% reported encountering chained dogs during their professional activities, particularly in rural areas. Most respondents perceived the tethering conditions as inadequate, particularly regarding freedom of movement and the fulfillment of behavioral needs. Frequently reported consequences included alopecia at the restraint site, poor muscle condition, physical injuries, fear-related behaviors, reduced socialization, and increased aggression. Preventing escape was identified as the primary perceived motivation for tethering. The majority of veterinarians supported some degree of criminalization, particularly when welfare impairment was evident. Conclusions: These findings reflect veterinary professionals’ perceptions of the welfare risks associated with prolonged tethering and underscore the need for integrated strategies combining regulation, education, and accessible, humane containment alternatives.

Studying behavioural lateralization in animals holds great potential for answering important questions in laterality research and clinical neuroscience. However, comparative research encounters challenges in reliability and validity, requiring new approaches and innovative designs to overcome. Although validated tests exist for some species, there is yet no standard test to compare lateralized manual behaviours between individuals, populations, and animal species. One of the main reasons is that different fine-motor abilities and postures must be considered for each species. Given that pawedness/handedness is a universal marker for behavioural lateralization across species, this article focuses on three commonly investigated species in laterality research: dogs, cats, and rats. We will present six apparatuses (two for dogs, three for cats, and one for rats) that enable an accurate assessment of paw preference. Design requirements and specifications such as zoometric fit for different body sizes and ages, reliability, robustness of the material, maintenance during and after testing, and animal welfare are extremely important when designing a new apparatus. Given that the study of behavioural lateralization yields crucial insights into animal welfare, laterality research, and clinical neuroscience, we aim to provide a solution to these challenges by presenting design requirements and innovations in methodology across species.

Scratching the environment is a natural behaviour that cats use for communication and physical maintenance purposes, however when it is carried out on household furniture it is considered unacceptable for some owners and even grounds for relinquishment of cats. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of FELIWAY^®Classic Diffuser in reducing undesirable scratching (scratching vertical surfaces indoors other than the scratching post) in cats. A 28 day, randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study with a total of 1060 caregiver-cat dyads was conducted. The study contained two groups: the Pheromone Group consisted of caregivers who were given a pheromone diffuser (n = 546) and the Placebo Group consisted of caregivers who were given a placebo diffuser (n = 514). A questionnaire with three subsections was distributed online. The first section, completed by the respondents at day 0, inquired about the cats’ daily routines, social and physical environments, behaviour, temperament, and emotional states. The second section filled on day 0, 7, 14, and 28, assessed the Frequency and the Intensity of the undesirable scratching problem and the effectiveness of the product. The last section, filled on the 28th day of the product application, related to the caregivers’ opinions about the product and overall outcome. After 28 days the scratching Frequency reduced for 83.5% of the cats in the Pheromone Group and 68.5% for the Placebo Group (p®Classic diffuser significantly reduces the Frequency, Intensity and the Global Index Score of undesirable scratching.

Lack of knowledge about iodine has been suggested as a risk factor for iodine deficiency in pregnant women but no studies have addressed this issue in Portugal. So, the aim of this study was to investigate iodine knowledge among Portuguese pregnant women and its association with iodine status. IoMum, a prospective observational study, included 485 pregnant women recruited at Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de S. João, Porto, between the 10th and 13th gestational weeks. Partial scores for knowledge on iodine importance, on iodine food sources or on iodised salt were obtained through the application of a structured questionnaire. Then, a total iodine knowledge score was calculated and grouped in low, medium and high knowledge categories. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured in spot urine samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. 54% of pregnant women correctly recognized iodine as important to neurocognitive development, 32% were unable to identify any iodine rich food and 71% presented lack of knowledge regarding iodised salt. 61% of women had a medium total score of iodine knowledge. Knowledge on iodine importance during pregnancy was positively associated with iodine supplementation and also with UIC. Nevertheless, median UIC in women that correctly recognized the importance of iodine was below the cut-off for adequacy in pregnancy (150 µg/L). In conclusion, knowledge on iodine importance associated positively with iodine status. Despite this, recognizing iodine importance during pregnancy may not be sufficient to ensure iodine adequacy. Literacy promoting actions are urgently needed to improve iodine status in pregnancy.

En tr Domestic animals, which started to live with human-animals thousands of years ago, were regarded as “things” which were created for human service and deprived of emotions until the end of the 18th century. This idea of “animals are machines” began to change in 1789, when the British writer, philosopher and social reformer Jeremy Bentham wrote that “The question is not, «Can they reason?» nor «Can they talk?» but, «Can they suffer?» Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being?”. Bentham added that “The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes.". Today, despite a general tendency for adopting legislation aiming to protect non-human animals and to criminalize animal mistreatment and abuse, the reality is that there are still improvements needed to be done in order to consider animals as sentient beings. This reviewing paper identifies and discusses the different philosophies and theories that are in the basis of the animal rights, which include mechanistic, utilitarianism, welfarism and abolitionism. Binlerce yıl önce insanlarla yaşamaya başlamış olan evcil hayvanlar, 18. yüzyılın sonuna kadar insan hizmeti için yaratılmış ve duygulardan yoksun olan “nesneler” olarak kabul edildi. Bu, “hayvanlar makinedir ” görüşü, İngiliz yazar, filozof ve sosyal reformcu olan Jeremy Bentham 'ın 1789' da yazdığı şu cümlelerle değişmeye başladı: “Asıl soru, Onlar fikir yürütebilirler mi veya konuşabilirler mi değil, acı çekebilirler mi? Yasalar neden herhangi bir hassas varlığı korumayı reddetmeli?”. Bentham bu yazısına şöyle devam etmiştir: “İnsanlığın derisinin nefes alan her şeyi kaplayacağı zaman gelecektir”. Günümüzde, insan olmayan hayvanları da korumayI amaçlayan yasal mevzuatın oluşturulması ve insan dışı hayvanlara kötü muamele ile suistimali cezalandırmak için genel bir eğilim olmasına ragmen; hala daha hayvanlarıncanlı ve duyguları olan varlıklar olarak algılanmaları için iyileştirmelerin yapılması gerekliliği de bir gerçektir. Bu derleme makalesi, mekanistik (mekanizm), faydacılık (utilitarizm), refahçı yönelim ve abolisyonist (köleliğin kaldırılması) akım içeren ve hayvan haklarının savunulmasına dayanan farklı felsefeleri ve teorileri tanımlamakta ve tartışmaktadır.

Bullfighting is a controversial sport that continues to be legally permitted in a number of countries around the world, including Portugal. The spectacle has attracted significant attention from animal protectionist groups for many years because of concerns for animal distress, pain, and suffering during the fights. While there has been strong support for the sport in Portugal in the past, there is a need to study social profiles regarding the acceptability of this sport before a case can be made for changes in regional and national legislation. In this study, Portuguese attendance patterns at bullfights were assessed in addition to public opinions on welfare and ethical aspects of bullfighting, based on demographic variables. Study participants (n = 8248) were largely recruited through Portuguese social media channels (respondents may not be representative of the Portuguese population). Questionnaire data were evaluated by means of frequency tables, multiple correspondence analyses, and a two-step cluster analysis. Most respondents had a negative opinion about bullfighting and perceived that bullfighting had no positive impact on the country. However, while most respondents thought that the bull suffered during bullfighting, the opinion regarding banning bullfighting was far from unanimous. Based on the demographic analysis, the profile of individuals with more favorable responses towards bullfighting were men > 65 years old, of Roman Catholic faith, of low- or high-income levels, from more rural areas of Portugal. Somewhat surprisingly, there was a tendency to favor bullfighting amongst veterinary professionals. We conclude that there were still large pockets of individuals who desire to maintain the practice of traditional bullfighting within Portuguese society, despite recognition of animal suffering during the event.

People often develop strong emotional connections with their dogs and consider them to be members of the family. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel validated tool, the Mourning Dog Questionnaire, to recognise and evaluate the mourning process in people who have lost a dog. The research model was based on a grid of five different questionnaires: the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, the Animal-Human Continuity Scale, the Positivity Scale, and the Testoni Death Representation Scale. The Italian version of the survey was posted on social networks. A sample of 369 Italian dog owners filled in the questionnaire (mean age ± SD 42.00 ± 10.70 years). Reliability indices were good for all instruments. The total scores of the five questionnaires correlated with each other. The results from the Mourning Dog Questionnaire support the negative view of life after the death of a pet and people’s tendency to humanise their pet, since dog owners perceived animals no differently from humans in terms of emotions, needs and legal rights. Findings arising from the use of the Mourning Dog Questionnaire will help the implementation of rationality-based strategies to improve the wellbeing, resilience and quality of life of people in the world experiencing the loss of a pet.