Reasons for relinquishment of owned dogs in a municipal shelter in Belgrade

Abstract

It seems that the dog overpopulation in Belgrade is similar to that of many other cities in the world. However, Belgrade does not have problems with inhumane stray dogs' population control methods, nor with their malnutrition, nor with inadequate veterinary care. Moreover, Belgrade has a problem with irresponsible and uneducated dog owners, stray and abandoned dogs on the streets and many unlicensed private animal shelters. The next problem is the existence of only one municipal shelter for abandoned, relinquished pets and stray dogs and cats in Belgrade. The first aim of the study was to estimate the total number and the ratio of dogs that were relinquished to the municipal shelter for adoption and for euthanasia in the period from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2007. The second aim of the study was to estimate the main reasons for relinquishment of owned dogs for adoption and reasons for euthanasia in the municipal shelter in Belgrade. The most owned dogs were relinquished for euthanasia (N=1005; 86.563%). Only 156 dogs (13.437%) were relinquished for adoption. Therefore, the number of relinquished dogs for euthanasia was significantly higher than the number of relinquished dogs for adoption (P<0.001). Financial problems were the most frequently given reasons for relinquishment of dogs to the municipal shelter for adoption (26.92%). The leading cause of relinquishment of dogs to the municipal shelter for euthanasia was incurable illness of aged dogs (25.77%).