探討香港爬行寵物的飼養現況及飼主的動物福利行為與其社會支持間之關係

Abstract

近年爬行寵物（爬寵）越趨流行，香港有關爬寵的研究偏向動物被遺棄或逃逸後對生態的影響、市民對爬寵的知識或是寵物貿易的研究，暫時尚未有針對飼主的飼養行為和爬寵的動物福利之研究。本研究採用混合方法研究，先以質性研究與四位香港爬寵飼主進行了一對一的半開放式訪談，初步探索香港爬寵飼主的飼養行為以及當中的有利動物福利的行為（動物福利行為），並從中整理出與飼主動物福利行為相關的因素及提出有關社會支持的研究假設；接著以量化研究（網路問卷）收集數據驗證研究假設，問卷收集時間為2022年3月10日至2022年4月11日，有效問卷數量為203份。結果顯示香港爬寵飼主的社會支持主要來自於i) 家人、同住人及朋友，ii) 其他爬寵飼主和 iii) 社交媒體；此外，飼主比較多在滿足寵物對溫度和光源的需求上出現有利動物福利的行為，但在滿足寵物對居住空間和躲藏空間的需求上表現則比較弱；另一方面，本研究並未發現與爬寵行為有關的爬寵福利影響因子，只發現與飼主行為有關的爬寵福利影響因子；最後，來自其他飼主和社交媒體的社會支持對飼主的飼養行為有關的爬寵福利有直接影響。In recent years, reptiles have become increasingly popular. Research on reptile in Hong Kong has focused on the ecological impact of abandoned or escaped reptiles, public knowledge of reptiles, and reptile trade. Research on the husbandry behavior of owners and the animal welfare of reptiles is in lack. This research is mixed methods research. First, qualitative research was conducted with four Hong Kong reptile owners in one-on-one semi-open interviews to initially explore the husbandry behavior of Hong Kong reptile owners and their behaviors that are beneficial to animal welfare (animal welfare behavior), then sorted out the factors that associated with owners’ animal welfare behavior and proposed the research hypothesis related to social support. Quantitative research (online questionnaire) was used to collect data to verify the research hypothesis. The questionnaire collection time was from 10th March 2022 to 11th April 2022, a total of 203 valid questionnaires received. The results show that the social support of reptile owners in Hong Kong mainly comes from i) family members, co-residents, and friends, ii) other reptile owners and iii) social media is more significant than from family members, co-residents, and friends. In addition, owners are more likely to have animal welfare behavior in meeting the needs of pets for temperature and lighting but are relatively weak in meeting the needs of pets for living space and hiding space. Moreover, no factors can be found affecting the animal welfare related to reptile’s behaviours, while factors affecting the animal welfare related to owners’ behaviours were found. Finally, the social support from other owners and social media had a direct impact on the animal welfare related to owners’ behaviours.