Citation

Voith VL. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 2009; 39(2): 327-345.

Affiliation

College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766-1854, USA. vvoith@westernu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.10.014

PMID

19185196

Abstract

The benefits of companion animals are immense, but there can be negative impacts also. Noise, destructive behaviors, excrement, bites, and the overpopulation of domestic cats and dogs are some of the major problems that can result in stress and hardships on owners, neighbors, the community, and the pets themselves. The perpetuation of pets in society requires that the negative aspects of living with dogs and cats be addressed. Veterinarians can play an important role in addressing these problems by incorporating the concept of behavior wellness into their practices and promoting education regarding husbandry, animal behavior, responsible pet ownership, and the effects of pets on the environment.

Language: en