Table 2 Means of acquiring, factors considered, and reason for keeping dogs and cats in the three study towns
Items | Category | Dog | Cat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of HH | Percent | No. of HH | Percent | ||
Factors considered to select pet | Sex | 274 | 69.0 | 95 | 39.7 |
Color | 195 | 49.1 | 59 | 24.7 | |
Age | 137 | 34.5 | 50 | 20.9 | |
Breed | 110 | 27.7 | 25 | 10.5 | |
Behavior/ aggressiveness | 8 | 2.5 | – | – | |
Non responding | – | – | 111 | 46.4 | |
Means of acquiring the pet | Neighbours | 184 | 46.3 | 105 | 43.9 |
Family | 111 | 27.9 | 72 | 30.1 | |
Friends | 53 | 13.4 | 22 | 9.2 | |
Street breeder | 38 | 9.6 | 18 | 7.5 | |
Breeder or purchase | 11 | 2.7 | 2 | 0.8 | |
The purpose of keeping the pet | Protection of property | 304 | 76.5 | 200 | 83.7 |
Love and affection | 116 | 29.2 | – | – | |
Companionship | 131 | 33.0 | 105 | 43.9 | |