Preliminary observations of the role of dogs in household security in New Providence, The Bahamas
2004
Fielding, W. J. (William J.) | Plumridge, Susan J.
In New Providence, The Bahamas, dogs are commonly kept outside and allowed to roam. It is generally understood that this style of maintaining dogs is responsible for the island's dog overpopulation. Given this overpopulation of dogs, and that many people have dogs for security, it is important to assess if dogs do provide the protection their owners think they offer. In this study, 229 college students were surveyed about household security measures, the presence of dogs and if their home had ever been broken into (either during the day or night). Overall, 33% of homes had been broken into and the presence of dogs in the home was not associated with a decreased chance of a break-in. Seventy-four percent of dogowning households had at least one dog specifically for protection. Local mongrels—potcakes—were apparently less effective than dogs of a recognizable breed in deterring criminals; however, purebred dogs were less likely to roam than potcakes and this may have enhanced their ability to be protective. The implications of these findings on dog ownership in New Providence are discussed, the most important being that unconfined dogs provide little real protection.
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