Study of the Population Structure of Dogs in a Political District in Mexico City

A study was followed in order to measure the canine population structure according to dog ownership variables and social stratum of housing in the political district of Alvaro Obregon in Mexico City. Through a stratified random sampling, the number of housing to be sampled was determined. Total 2436 questionnaires were applied in high (397), medium (1029) and low (1010) social strata. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the frequency of homes with dogs, number of dogs per housing, male: female ratio, dog: human ratio, breed, preventive treatments, ownership aspects, handling habits, cause of death and type of shelter. Life expectancy was 0-2 years for the three strata in approximately 1.8 periods. The difference in the population structure among the strata may lead to preventive actions, control and eradication of dog diseases or zoonoses. It is necessary to implement programs to limit canine population growth, as dogs may be an important etiology in human diseases.