Public preferences regarding rabies-prevention policies in the UK

The current 6-month quarantine system for all cats and dogs entering the UK has kept the UK rabies-free since 1922. However, pressure is mounting for a change to a system of vaccination, microchip identification and serologic al testing. In response to the increasing controversy surrounding the quara ntine system, the UK government recently set up an independent review panel to assess the alternatives. This paper quantifies public preferences for t he current policy and three alternative rabies-prevention measures. A surve y was used not only to assess the overall preferences for rabies-prevention policies but also to assess the importance of policy attributes and socioe conomic characteristics in determining policy preferences. We interviewed a sample of pet-owners in North Yorkshire. The results showed that the exist ing system was the single most-preferred policy option. However, a large pr oportion of the sample preferred the vaccination-based policies. A logistic -regression model and ordered probit models were used to find that safety a nd animal welfare were the most-important factors determining policy prefer ences. The respondents' awareness of the rabies-policy review, a desire to take a pet abroad, the amount of foreign travel, occupation and previous ex perience of quarantine were all important factors in policy choice. Socio-e conomic characteristics such as income, pets owned and the number of childr en were not significant determinants of policy preference. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.