Saúde única e a relação entre animais domésticos em situação de abandono, sociedade e meio ambiente: um estudo de caso do projeto “animais universitários” em Fortaleza-CE

Abstract

The One Health approach recognizes the interdependence between human, animal and environmental health, and it is essential for the formulation of public policies aimed at mitigating socio-environmental and health impacts. In the context of this study, the relationship between Ecological Economics, One Health and the problem of stray cats and dogs is analyzed, highlighting the challenges and limitations of the current public policies and the relevance of the third sector in mitigating this problem. The study reveals that, despite the existence of government programs aimed at animal welfare, state action is still insufficient to meet demand. That results in an overload of the third sector, composed of non-governmental organizations and volunteers who play an essential role in protecting and rehabilitating these animals. The impacts of the lack of control over abandoned domestic animals go beyond animal welfare issues. The actions of this sector and initiatives such as The Animais Universitários Project are what prevent the problem from becoming increasingly serious, since the abandonment and overpopulation of dogs and cats affects urban and rural ecosystems, promoting the predation of native species, the spread of zoonoses and environmental degradation. In addition, the lack of effective permanent action generates high costs for health systems due to the high incidence of zoonotic diseases. Given this scenario, the study reinforces the need to expand public policies aimed at One Health, proposing greater integration between government agencies and civil society organizations.