o:2483 Intraspecific Interactions Decrease Stress AffectingWelfare in Shelter Dogs: A Comparison of Four Different Housing Conditions en Shelters are stressful environments for domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Evaluating dogs' welfare is crucial to improve their life condition and to promote a better management of shelters. We aimed at verifying which variables improved welfare in 10 shelter dogs ((hosted in the shelter "Centro cinofilo Caerite" in Bracciano (Rome)) by analysing their behavioural responses in different environmental conditions. Furthermore, faecal samples were taken to measure cortisol metabolites (CM), a non-invasive method to evaluate adrenocortical activity in dogs. Dogs were observed for a total of 400 h in 4 different cage conditions: (i) alone in a cage; ii) alone in an enriched cage; (iii) in cage with conspecifics; (iv) in cage with regular interaction with humans outside the cage. Alone in the cage situation showed highest frequencies of displacement activities (Friedman test: χ2 = 13.32; p = 0.004). In contrast, being in the cage with conspecifics seems to reduce displacement activity frequency, as well as the level of faecal cortisol metabolites (Friedman test: χ2 = 8.04; p = 0.045). Our results suggest that conspecifics' presence is the best way to reduce stress in shelter dogs. This research could provide some useful guidelines for managing shelters and improving dogs' life condition. Environmental Enrichment; Kenneled Dogs; Cortisol Metabolites; Spatial Restriction; Plasma-Cortisol; Behavior; Welfare; Indicators; Reduce; Cats 1552099 10.3390/ani13111828 2024-02-05T09:36:48.536Z 44 yes 46 Sara Corsetti The University of Western Australia 0000-0001-9183-9749 Eugenia Natoli Local Health Unit Rome 3 person 0000-0002-9232-7048 Rupert Palme University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna person 0000-0001-9466-3662 Emanuela Viggiano Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione person application/pdf 700129 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:2483 no yes 16 70 1552253 Animals 12 13 11 MDPI 2023