{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T12:11:19Z","timestamp":1789992679342,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789344000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0198j4566","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>University-based animal welfare organizations are grassroots actors involved in managing free-roaming dog and cat populations, yet their role remains poorly characterized, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify and describe animal welfare organizations operating within universities in Ecuador and to analyze their potential contributions within a One Health framework. A cross-sectional survey of 63 universities was conducted using publicly available information from institutional websites and social media platforms, complemented by semi-structured interviews with representatives of identified organizations. Organizations with evidence of activity through 2026 and a focus on dogs or cats were included. A total of 14 animal welfare organizations from 12 universities were identified, representing 19.0% of the universities analyzed. Most organizations (71.4%) were located in public universities, and 35.7% were associated with veterinary-related programs. Framework-informed analysis of interview data (12 out of 14 organizations interviewed) revealed four key dimensions of organizational functioning: capacity and governance, animal care and population management, public health and community engagement, and institutional integration. Reported activities included animal rescue, sterilization campaigns, adoption initiatives, and community outreach, aligning with internationally recommended strategies for humane population management. Several organizations have extended their reach beyond campus boundaries through free veterinary intervention campaigns in rural communities, partnerships with municipal authorities, and collaboration with civil society networks, reflecting a broader public health role consistent with One Health principles. Despite their potential, these organizations face structural challenges, including high volunteer turnover, the absence of direct institutional funding, and limited formal integration into governmental frameworks. Institutional support, where present, is predominantly material rather than financial, placing the burden of sustainability on self-management mechanisms. Nonetheless, their embeddedness within academic environments positions them as strategic platforms for interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential training, and community engagement. This study highlights the need to recognize and integrate university-based animal welfare organizations into broader animal population management and public health strategies. Strengthening partnerships between academia, government, and civil society could enhance both animal welfare outcomes and zoonotic disease surveillance efforts in Ecuador and other low- and middle-income countries.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16182885","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T09:34:01Z","timestamp":1789378441000},"page":"2885","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["University-Based Animal Welfare Organizations in Ecuador: A National One Health Perspective"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-1153-0156","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u00c1ngel Sebasti\u00e1n","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Pazmi\u00f1o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas, Quito 170124, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Sarita Dom\u00e9nica","family":"Bautista-Arcentales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas, Quito 170124, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0025-3609","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miguel Angel","family":"Garcia-Bereguiain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Am\u00e9ricas, Quito 170124, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5787-3115","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Solon Alberto","family":"Orlando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Campus La Costa, Universidad Ecotec, Km 13.5 Samborond\u00f3n, Samborond\u00f3n EC092302, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Calderon, J., Poveda, S., Sosa, A.L., Mora, N., L\u00f3pez-B\u00e9jar, M., Garcia-Bereguian, M.A., and Orlando, S.A. (2023). Dog Bites as a Zoonotic Risk in Ecuador: Need for the Implementation of a One Health Approach. ONE Health, 16.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.onehlt.2023.100544"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hampson, K., Coudeville, L., Lembo, T., Sambo, M., Kieffer, A., Attlan, M., Barrat, J., Blanton, J.D., Briggs, D.J., and Cleaveland, S. (2015). Estimating the Global Burden of Endemic Canine Rabies. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 9.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0003786"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2013). WHO Expert Consultation on Rabies. Second Report, World Health Organization."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"International Companion Animal Management Coalition (2026, June 29). Humane Cat Population Management Guidance. Available online: https:\/\/www.icam-coalition.org\/download\/humane-cat-population-management-guidance\/."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"International Companion Animal Management Coalition (2026, July 12). Humane Dog Population Management Guidance. Available online: https:\/\/www.icam-coalition.org\/download\/humane-dog-population-management-guidance\/."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"(2026, July 12). WOAH Stray Dog Population Control. Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Available online: https:\/\/www.woah.org\/fileadmin\/Home\/eng\/Health_standards\/tahc\/current\/en\/chapitre_aw_stray_dog.pdf\/."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1096","DOI":"10.1111\/1365-2664.12279","article-title":"The Demography of Free-Roaming Dog Populations and Applications to Disease and Population Control","volume":"51","author":"Morters","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Appl. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Destoumieux-Garz\u00f3n, D., Mavingui, P., Boetsch, G., Boissier, J., Darriet, F., Duboz, P., Fritsch, C., Giraudoux, P., Le Roux, F., and Morand, S. (2018). The One Health Concept: 10 Years Old and a Long Road Ahead. Front. Vet. Sci., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2018.00014"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"(2026, July 12). CACES Listado de Universidades y Escuelas Polit\u00e9cnica\u2014Caces 2025. Available online: https:\/\/www.caces.gob.ec\/listado-de-universidades-y-escuelas-politecnica\/."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Erazo, J. (2026, February 26). Universidades y Polit\u00e9cnicas Se Concentran En Pocas Ciudades. Available online: https:\/\/www.primicias.ec\/noticias\/firmas\/universidades-politecnicas-ciudades-educacion-ecuador\/."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Winograd, N. (2026, July 10). Mission: Accomplished\u2014Stanford Cat Network Adopts the Last of the Campus Cats. Available online: https:\/\/www.all-creatures.org\/cac\/cac-stanford-cat-network.html."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Levy, J., and Wilford, C. (2017). Management of Stray and Feral Community Cats, Wiley-Blackwell."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Swarbrick, H., and Rand, J. (2018). Application of a Protocol Based on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to Manage Unowned Urban Cats on an Australian University Campus. Animals, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani8050077"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2011.600186","article-title":"Managing Feral Cats on a University\u2019s Campuses: How Many Are There and Is Sterilization Having an Effect?","volume":"14","author":"Jones","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci. JAAWS"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bicalho, G.C., de Oliveira, L.B.S., de Oliveira, C.S.F., Costa Val Bicalho, A.P.D., Bastos, C.V., Torres, C.M., Malm, C., de Souza, F.L., Lima, G.K., and Maia, L.D.M.S. (2024). Realities, Perceptions, and Strategies for Implementation of an Ethical Population Management Program for Dogs and Cats on University Campuses. Front. Vet. Sci., 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2024.1408795"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2018.1550721","article-title":"Free-Roaming Cat (Felis Catus) Management and Welfare Policies in Two University Campuses in Beirut, Lebanon: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities","volume":"23","author":"Davey","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci. JAAWS"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gale, N.K., Heath, G., Cameron, E., Rashid, S., and Redwood, S. (2013). Using the Framework Method for the Analysis of Qualitative Data in Multi-Disciplinary Health Research. BMC Med. Res. Methodol., 13.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2288-13-117"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ritchie, J., and Spencer, L. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis for Applied Policy Research. Analyzing Qualitative Data, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203413081_chapter_9"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.1002\/aro2.70021","article-title":"Animal Welfare as an Essential Element of One Health","volume":"3","author":"Lymbery","year":"2025","journal-title":"Anim. Res. One Health"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.1637\/8713-031809-Reg.1","article-title":"Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response in Indonesia: Strengthening Veterinary Services and Empowering Communities to Prevent and Control Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza","volume":"54","author":"Azhar","year":"2010","journal-title":"Avian Dis."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100334","DOI":"10.1016\/j.onehlt.2021.100334","article-title":"Integrated Community Based Human and Animal Syndromic Surveillance in Adadle District of the Somali Region of Ethiopia","volume":"13","author":"Osman","year":"2021","journal-title":"ONE Health"},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"250","article-title":"Experience with Dog Sterilization Campaigns for Surveillance of Zoonotic Diseases in Ecuador: Building Bridges with Animal Organizations to Improve One Health Research","volume":"112","author":"Orlando","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edsticas y Censos (2026, July 12). M\u00c1S DE 2 MILLONES DE NI\u00d1OS EN EL ECUADOR VIVEN CON MASCOTAS. Available online: https:\/\/www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec\/institucional\/mas-de-2-millones-de-ninos-en-el-ecuador-viven-con-mascotas\/."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Totoy Pilco, E.J. (2026, July 12). Animales Caninos Abandonados en la Ciudad de Guayaquil. bachelorThesis. Available online: https:\/\/dspace.ups.edu.ec\/handle\/123456789\/24038\/."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Gavilanes, P. (2026, July 12). El Abandono es Crueldad Animal y se Sanciona en Quito. El Comercio. Available online: https:\/\/www.elcomercio.com\/narices-frias\/abandono-crueldad-animal-quito-sancion-multa\/."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Ter\u00e1n Yar, P.A. (2026, July 12). El Abandono de Perros en el Distrito Metropolitano de Quito Como Fen\u00f3meno Social, 2013\u20132023. Available online: https:\/\/www.dspace.uce.edu.ec\/entities\/publication\/www.dspace.uce.edu.ec\/."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"O\u00f1ate, S. (2026, July 12). Los Perros Atropellados en las v\u00edas son un Drama de Todos los d\u00edas. El Comercio. Available online: https:\/\/www.elcomercio.com\/actualidad\/quito\/perros-atropellados-vias-quito\/."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.54753\/cedamaz.v13i1.1282","article-title":"Frecuencia de leptospirosis en pacientes caninos atendidos en el hospital docente veterinario \u201cC\u00e9sar Augusto Guerrero\u201d","volume":"13","author":"Pinta","year":"2023","journal-title":"CEDAMAZ"}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/18\/2885\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T11:27:56Z","timestamp":1789990076000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/18\/2885"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"18","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16182885"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16182885","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]}}}