Risk Factors for Dog Relinquishment to a Los Angeles Municipal Animal Shelter.

Emily Dolan,Jamie Scotto,Emily Weiss,Margaret Slater

doi:10.3390/ani5040413

Abstract

Simple SummaryLow income has been reported to be a risk factor for dog relinquishment to shelters in the U.S. The majority of people with lower incomes, however, do not relinquish. Risk factors for relinquishment in a low socioeconomic region of Los Angeles were examined. Cost was associated with relinquishment, and most people were not aware of available assistance. Those who relinquished reported emotional attachment to the dog and higher perceived stress than a comparison group. The majority of reasons for relinquishment were likely solvable with assistance, highlighting an opportunity to provide community-specific alternatives to relinquishment. Dog relinquishment is a large component of shelter intake in the United States. Research has shown traits of the dog are associated with relinquishment as well as general characteristics of those relinquishing. Low income is often cited as a risk factor for relinquishment. The majority of people with lower incomes, however, do not relinquish. A group of people accessing a shelter in a low socioeconomic region of Los Angeles to relinquish their dogs was surveyed. This study examined risk factors for relinquishment, controlling for household income, compared to a group utilizing low cost spay/neuter services. A total of 76.9% of those relinquishing noted cost as a reason for relinquishment. Of participants in the relinquishment group, 80.7% reported not being aware of any services available to them. Most notable in the findings was that the odds of relinquishment were generally higher as the amount of perceived stress in the home in the past three months increased. The majority of people in both groups reported being emotionally attached to the dog. In this sample from a South Los Angeles community, the majority of reasons for relinquishment were likely solvable with assistance. These findings highlight an opportunity to assess community needs and provide community specific alternatives to relinquishment.

Highlights

Pet relinquishment makes up a substantial component of shelter intake across the country [1] and can account for 25%–50% of shelter intake in most communities [1,2]
This study aimed to explore the risk factors for relinquishment in a geographically-based sample drawn from a community marked by concentrated poverty
The area of South Los Angeles in particular is marked by clusters of neighborhoods with concentrated poverty, defined as more than 40% of households living in poverty [21]

Summary

Introduction

Pet relinquishment makes up a substantial component of shelter intake across the country [1] and can account for 25%–50% of shelter intake in most communities [1,2]. As these animals were at one point in a home, the most expedient way to reduce homelessness for these animals may be to keep them at home [3]. In order to develop interventions that prevent relinquishment and keep pets home, it is important to understand the situation in the home that leads up to relinquishment and the barriers to keeping the animal. Other reports show that “dogs spending most of their time outside” was associated with relinquishment of those dogs [2,10,11]

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Conclusion