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Top 10 Reasons for Pet Relinquishment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- July 17, 1998
WHY DO PETS END UP IN SHELTERS?
STUDY FINDS THE TOP 10
REASONS FOR PET RELINQUISHMENT
Denver-Every day in communities across the US a bond is broken.
It’s the bond between people and their pets, resulting in millions
of pets being surrendered to shelters each year. And little has been
known about the reasons why until now.
In a recent study conducted by the National Council on Pet
Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) and published in the July issue
of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (JAAWS),
researchers went into 12 selected animal shelters in the United
States for one year to find out why.
The results of the study show that the top seven reasons for
relinquishment for both dogs and cats are the same. "These
commonalties suggest that there may be similar ways to address
relinquishment in dogs and cats," says Pam Burney, NCPPSP president.
"For people who work in a shelter all day, there isn't always time
to look at these issues. We have impressions of what's happening,
but now we have objective data that will help us develop specific
programs to address the issues that have been identified."
WHY DO PETS END UP IN SHELTERS?
STUDY FINDS THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR PET
RELINQUISHMENT
Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment*
Dogs:
1. Moving (7%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (4%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (4%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (3%)
8. Having no time for pet (4%)
9. Pet illness(es) (4%)
10. Biting (3%)
Cats:
1. Moving (8%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (11%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (2%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (6%)
8. Allergies in family (8%)
9. House soiling (5%)
10. Incompatibility with other pets (2%)
Specially trained researchers completed confidential individual
interviews with pet owners who were relinquishing their dogs or cats
to animal shelters. Pet owners were allowed to give up to five
reasons for relinquishment. Interviewers did not, however,
prioritize the responses. They simply recorded them in the order
stated.
Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
In addition to the reasons for relinquishment, the study
collected data on the pets being relinquished. According to the
study: The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%)
were between 5 months and 3 years of age.
The majority of dogs (37.1 %) and cats (30.2) had been owned from
7 months to 1 year. Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs;
50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered. Many of the pets
relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a
veterinarian.
Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers
(31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source.
Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were
surrendered.
Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.
Characteristics of Pet Owners Surrendering Pets
During the confidential interviews, researchers also gathered
data on the people surrendering the pets. "Owners represented a
broad range of age, ethnicity, education, and income level,
indicating continued efforts will need to reach wide and far into
communities across the country," say Dr. Mo Salman, the article's
senior author.
The NCPPSP
Regional Shelter Survey was designed, implemented, and analyzed by
six members of the NCPPSP
Scientific Advisory Committee. Regional investigators were
encouraged to select shelters that were likely to be representative
of those in their locations. The selection was also based on a
shelter's ability to dedicate time and resources to the project.
The publication of this article represents the first such
scientific and public release of relinquishment data from the
NCPPSP's ongoing
research into pet population issues. "The council has undertaken
several important studies to better understand the issue of unwanted
companion animals. This problem cannot be solved unless we truly
understand it," says Burney. "With this new data, individuals and
organizations can have a clear idea of how to approach these issues
most effectively."
As with all research, there are limitations. According to the
authors, "the study was designed to describe the animals submitted
to shelters. Thus, this set of data has no comparison data from the
general pet-owning population.
Many factors undoubtedly influence relinquishment, and some
critical factors may have been omitted. This study represents a
beginning of systematic data collection to examine this complex
problem. The study is not designed to deal with animals other than
those entering shelters, and influences cannot be drawn beyond this
population."
___________________
The NCPPSP is
a coalition of:
American Animal Hospital Association
American Humane Association
American Kennel Club
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Veterinary Medical Association
Association of Teachers of Veterinary Public Health and
Preventative
Medicine
Cat Fanciers Association
The Humane Society of the United States
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
National Animal Control Association
Society of Animal Welfare Administrators
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* NOTE: The
percentages following the dog and cat information in this section
were not a part of the original press release and have been added.
The figures come from an article by Dr. M. D. Salman, Dr. John G.
New, Jr., et al., in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science,
1(3), 207- 226. The name of the article is, "Human and Animal
Factors Related to the Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats in 12
Selected Animal Shelters in the United States." The percentages do
not add up to 100% because they represent only the top ten reasons
given by owners for relinquishment of animals to shelters.
A copy of the press release and article can be obtained by
contacting:
Sally Fekety, Chair
Public Information Committee
National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy ( NCPPSP)
301/258-3122
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