Domestic dogs' skills such as hunting and herding shifted as man migrated from rural areas to developing urban centers and led to a change in human-dog relationship and in the purpose of these animals in the properties. The countryside of Viçosa is characterized by small coffee farms surrounded by RESUMO As habilidades dos cães domésticos como caçadores e pastores modifi caram com a mudança do homem das áreas rurais para os centros urbanos em desenvolvimento, levando para uma mudança nas relações humanos-cães e o propósito desses animais nas propriedades. O município de Viçosa é caracterizado por pequenas fazendas com cafeicultura, cercadas nas bordas por fragmentos de Mata

IIBegging test: uma avaliação da graduação da comunicação visual entre cães sem raça definida, cães de raça (Golden Retrievers) e humanos

The coati (Nasua nasua, Linnaeus 1766) is a generalist species, feeding on often-discarded human food in dumpsters around ecological tourism sites. We investigated the body weight and some blood chemistry variables related to the diet of wild coatis from three parks: Parque Municipal das Mangabeiras (PM), Parque Nacional do Caparaó (PNC) e Estação Ecológica Água Limpa (EEAL). We tested the plasma of 53 coatis for high-density lipoprotein (HDL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (Trig), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Male and female adults did not significantly differ on the weight (P > 0.05) and blood chemistry indexes (P > 0.05). The adult coatis of the PM were heavier than the adult coatis of the other two parks. There were significant differences in HDL (P < 0.04), AST (P < 0.001), ALT (P < 0.001), and GGT (P < 0.001) between adults of the three parks. Only ALT and ALP were significantly different (P < 0.05) among the young coatis. The results suggested the coatis of the three parks have different health status. The consumption of discarded human food seems to affect body weight of the PM coatis. The coatis from PNC and EEAL had blood chemistry profiles suggestive of liver disorder. We recommend carrying on environmental education programs to visitors and additional clinical investigations on coatis from these parks.

Article history Stray dogs are part of the scene in many cities, including Viçosa, where they gather at UFV campus. In order to understand the relation people have with stray dogs, 385 individuals answered to a semi-structured questionnaire. The number of stray dogs is high for most people; this dog population is mostly composed of adult males of undefined breed. Dogs perform most of their activities in the campus. Food sources appear to be varying and lure dogs into central territories, thus reducing the predatory pressure on wildlife. Interviewees are concerned with the low well-being level faced by stray dogs, although just half of them would adopt a dog to minimize the problem; most interviewees are against euthanasia. People acknowledge that stray dogs in the campus are an issue to the community and to dogs themselves. It seems that people are willing to find solutions to the stray dog issue.

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