The Unquantifiable Costs and Benefits of Keeping Dogs in Poland

The aim of the study was to determine whether dog keeping affected the physical and mental condition of dog owners in Poland. Data from 715 surveys were analysed. The questionnaire contained questions on the different aspects of dog ownership and certain characteristics of the respondents (such as sex, residence and age). The distribution of answers to each question was given on a scale of one to five. The survey showed that the owners gained certain benefits (mainly emotional ones) and experienced some losses (usually associated with the animal’s passing) stemming from dog ownership. Knowledge of these types of costs and benefits can improve future owners’ awareness and help to prevent homelessness in dogs.