Table 1 Characteristics of dogs and knowledge and attitudes of dog owners regarding potential zoonotic disease in urban and rural communities.

Sex of dogs

   Male

91

47.4%

89

43.6%

0.5

   Female

101

52.6%

115

56.4%

0.5

Age of dogs (months)

   0–6

61

31.8%

73

35.8%

0.4

   7–11

49

25.5%

59

28.9%

0.4

   ≥ 12

82

42.7%

72

35.3%

0.1

Reasons for keeping dogs

   Hunting

71

37.0

115

56.4

< 0.0001

   Watch dog

56

29.2

37

18.1

0.013

   Companion

43

22.4

32

15.7

0.1

   No specific reason

22

11.5

20

9.8

0.6

Where do dogs usually roam?

   Confined to dog house on compound

18

9.4

7

3.4

0.022

   Inside the house

3

1.6

11

5.4

0.055

   Within the compound

57

29.7

33

16.2

0.002

   Anywhere within and outside the compound

114

59.4

153

75.0

0.001

How do dogs leave house premises

   Always accompanied

35

18.2

10

4.9

< 0.0001

   Occasionally accompanied

67

34.9

80

39.2

0.4

   Never Accompanied

90

46.9

114

55.9

0.09

Usual place of defecation

   Within the house premises

66

34.4

54

26.5

0.1

   Within/out of house premises

126

65.6

150

73.5

0.1

Preferred type of floor where dogs defecate

   Only impervious (cemented/tiles)

29

15.1

16

7.8

0.027

   Only pervious (grass, soil, etc)

56

29.2

86

42.2

0.009

   Both pervious/impervious

107

55.7

102

50.0

0.3

Observation on dogs catching prey

118

61.5

164

80.4

< 0.0001

Last anthelminthic treatment of dogs

   < 12 months ago

42

21.9

20

9.8

0.001

   ≥ 12 months ago

56

29.2

38

18.6

0.018

   Never

94

49.0

146

71.6

< 0.0001

Dog owners' knowledge of possible diseases/conditions transmitted or caused by dogs*

   Rabies

124

64.6

136

66.7

0.7

   Wound from dog bite

75

39.1

85

41.7

0.6

   Scabies

35

18.2

28

13.7

0.3

   Worms

11

5.7

15

7.4

0.5

   Dysentery

6

3.1

10

4.9

0.4

   Other bacterial/viral diseases

5

2.6

12

5.9

0.14

Do children play with dogs?

   Yes

191

99.5

204

100

0.5

   No

1

0.5

0

0

0.5

Dog owners' perception of diseases transmitted by dogs

   Serious

35

18.2

23

11.3

0.064

   Not serious

91

47.4

72

35.3

0.019

   Do not cause any disease

66

34.4

109

53.4

< 0.0001