FREE VETERINARY CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH: A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE SAMUCÃO PROGRAM

Abstract

Objective: To analyze service records from SAMUCÃO, a free veterinary care program operated by the Municipality of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil, serving stray animals and animals belonging to socially vulnerable families. Methods: Documentary, descriptive research using quantitative and qualitative approaches, based on 95 records from October 1 to December 31, 2025. Results and Discussion: A total of 28 records were identified in October, 32 in November, and 35 in December. Dogs accounted for 72.6% of the records. The distribution by sex was balanced, with females representing 50.5% and males 48.4%. Keyword-based classification identified trauma, fractures, and vehicle-related injuries (47.4%); infectious and parasitic diseases (44.2%); and skin conditions and wounds (38.9%). Categories were not mutually exclusive. In 70.5% of the records, the outcome field was blank, preventing the calculation of mortality or case-fatality rates. The lack of standardized fields also limited the analyses, as the unit of analysis was the record rather than the individual animal. Conclusion: The data indicate substantial demand for veterinary care related to trauma and infectious diseases. Standardizing data collection forms is essential to improve record quality and support future program evaluations.