Relinquishment Of Dogs Research Articles

The Effects of Dog Behavioural Problems on Owner Well-Being: A Review of the Literature and Future Directions

Dog behavioural problems are one of the main reasons for dog relinquishment. Studies on how dog behavioural problems affect owner well-being are limited. We review the literature concerning the link between dog behavioural problems and owner well-being. We propose practical solutions to minimize the negative impacts of behavioural problems on human well-being and dog welfare, whilst suggesting future research directions. Twenty-one studies were included in the literature review. These indicate that dog behavioural problems may particularly reduce social interactions, and increase negative emotions of high arousal, such as stress and frustration, caregiver burden and symptoms of both depression and anxiety in their owners. To improve both owner well-being and dog welfare, we suggest targeting three areas: practical behavioural support for the dog–human dyad, social support for owners and psychological support for owners. Considering the lack of research in the field, further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between dog behavioural problems and human well-being, such as how the three areas previously mentioned may affect dog relinquishment and owner well-being.

Factors behind the Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats by their Guardians in Portugal

ABSTRACT In Portugal, the relinquishment of dogs and cats is a major problem. Thus, the authors developed a questionnaire to understand the factors influencing the relinquishment of companion animals in Portugal. With a view to analyze the factors behind relinquishment by companion animal guardians, the authors analyzed surveys completed by 72 participants, divided into two groups: REL (relinquisher, n = 36), i.e., guardians who had relinquished a companion animal and NREL (non-relinquisher, n = 36) i.e., guardians who had never relinquished a companion animal. The only significant factors for the REL group were the presence of children and the type of dwelling (apartment). Additionally, the duration of guardianship of the companion animal before relinquishment (REL group) was significantly shorter if there were children in the household than if there were no children.

Lead pulling as a welfare concern in pet dogs: What can veterinary professionals learn from current research?

Veterinary professionals (VPs) are often the first source of advice for clients struggling with their dog's behaviour, and pulling on the lead is a commonplace undesirable behaviour VPs will encounter regularly in practice. Excluding bites, being pulled over while walking on a lead is the leading cause of non-fatal dog-related injuries in the UK. This narrative review investigates lead pulling as a welfare concern in pet dogs, highlighting aspects of the literature of particular interest to VPs. Lead pulling could negatively affect walk quality, frequency and duration, causing weight gain, while decreased environmental enrichment could trigger other undesirable behaviours. Aversive equipment to prevent lead pulling can cause pain, distress and injury, but even equipment considered humane can have welfare consequences. Punitive training methods could cause dogs stress, fear and anxiety and trigger aggressive behaviour. While these lead pulling outcomes are welfare concerns in themselves, they could also weaken dog-owner attachment, a risk factor in pet dog relinquishment. Given lead pulling could affect the welfare of patients in a VPs care, clinical implications and opportunities for client education are outlined. Educating clients on humane prevention and modification of lead pulling could make walks easier, safer and more enjoyable, with positive outcomes for clients, canine welfare and the practice.

Reasons for Guardian-Relinquishment of Dogs to Shelters: Animal and Regional Predictors in British Columbia, Canada.

Dogs are relinquished to animal shelters for animal-related or guardian-related reasons. Understanding what drives relinquishment patterns is essential for informing intervention opportunities to keep animals with their guardians. Whereas, overall reasons for relinquishment in a given shelter system have been well explored, analysis of human and animal predictors of relinquishing for a specific reason has not been previously attempted. We used characteristics of relinquishment including year, population of the relinquishing guardian's region, health status of the dog, breed, age group, weight, and sex to predict reasons for dog relinquishment to British Columbia (BC) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shelters across BC between 2008 and 2019 (n = 32,081). Relinquishment trends for puppies and adult dogs were also viewed and described. From 2008–2019, the proportion of dogs relinquished relative to total intake remained consistent (range: 31–35%). Primary reasons reported by guardians were having too many dogs (19%), housing issues (17%), personal issues (15%), financial issues (10%), dog behavior (10%), and guardian health (8%). Over years, an increasing proportion of dogs were relinquished for the reason “too many” (OR = 1.16, 95% CI, 1.10–1.23, p < 0.001) and “behavior” (OR = 1.34, 95% CI, 1.26–1.43, p < 0.001), while a decreasing proportion were relinquished due to financial problems (OR = 0.94, 95% CI, 0.88–1.00, p = 0.047). Being a puppy, mixed breed, small, and from a small or medium population center predicted the reason “too many.” Being a senior, Healthy, or from a medium or large population center predicted the reason “housing issues.” Being a non-puppy, Healthy dog in a large population center predicted the reason “personal issues.” Being a puppy, non-Healthy, female, and from a large population center predicted the reason “financial issues.” Being a larger young adult or adult and Healthy predicted the reason “dog behavior.” Being an adult or senior small dog from a small population center predicted the reason “guardian health.” Particularly promising region-specific intervention opportunities include efforts to prevent too many animals in small population centers, improvement of pet-inclusive housing in large population centers, and providing animal care support in large population centers. Accessible veterinary services, including low-cost or subsidized care, likely benefit dog retention across BC.

Reducing Dog Relinquishment to Rescue Centres Due to Behaviour Problems: Identifying Cases to Target with an Advice Intervention at the Point of Relinquishment Request.

Simple SummaryAnnually, thousands of dogs are relinquished to rescue centres globally. Dog owners report that a leading cause for relinquishment are their dogs’ behavioural problems. Efforts are needed to reduce dog relinquishment, by enabling dog owners to feel comfortable and confident with having them in their home. Free behavioural advice was offered to 1131 dog owners at the time of them calling to relinquish their dog to animal welfare charity. Behavioural advice was accepted by 24.4% of the dog owners calling to relinquish their dogs. The advice was accepted almost six times more often by owners with dogs with general management behaviour problems, compared to owners who had problems with aggression between dogs in their home. Offering free behavioural advice reduced the number of dog relinquishments. Consequently, the stress associated with maintaining a dog in sheltered conditions and rehoming them, and the trauma for the owner was eliminated in a quarter of cases. Moving forward, additional strategies are needed to enable more owners to keep their dogs in their homes and reduce relinquishment.Behaviour problems are a leading reason for dogs being relinquished to rescue centres across the world every year. The aim of this study was to investigate whether free behavioural advice would be accepted at the point of an owner requesting to relinquish their dog for behavioural reasons. The call records of 1131 relinquishment requests were reviewed and analysed to establish if the offer of free behaviour advice was accepted. The results showed that advice was accepted in 24.4% of relinquishment requests and behavioural problem was a significant predictor of whether advice was accepted (p < 0.001). The odds of advice being accepted were 5.755 times (95% CI: 2.835–11.681; p < 0.001) greater for a relinquishment request due to problems with general management behaviours compared to aggression between dogs in the home, representing 4.2% and 20.2% of overall relinquishment requests. These data suggest that owners are prepared to accept behaviour advice at the point of relinquishment request, so advice interventions could have potential to impact the levels of dog relinquishment to rescue centres. The impact of an intervention offering behaviour advice may be limited by overall levels of advice acceptance by owners and therefore complimentary proactive solutions to reduce behavioural relinquishments should also be considered.

Attitudes Toward Dog Relinquishment as Assessed Through a Survey of University Students

ABSTRACT Significant numbers of dogs are relinquished to shelters each year, impacting dogs, owners, and communities. Attitudes surrounding relinquishment may guide how a dog owner responds to situations such as behavioral problems or financial difficulties and may also influence what owners disclose to shelters at the time of surrender. However, no previous studies have examined attitudes toward relinquishment from those not currently involved in the process. In this study, university students (n = 443) completed an online survey examining their attitudes toward dog relinquishment in various scenarios focused on either dog-related or owner-related reasons for relinquishment. Additionally, participants were told that the dogs were either adopted from a shelter or purchased from a breeder. Dog source had no significant effect on judgments of the decision to surrender; therefore, a bias against shelter dogs was not evident. Participants rated individuals relinquishing dogs negatively, but there was a significant effect of scenario, with more sympathy for those relinquishing for financial difficulties or serious dog behavioral problems. Dog relinquishment was rated as less acceptable by those with current or previous ownership of a dog, previous experience with professional trainers, and those who reported higher pet attachment. These results supplement the existing research on attitudes toward relinquishment. A better understanding of attitudes surrounding relinquishment provides context for owner-stated reasons for surrendering dogs and information that could help guide future interventions for decreasing relinquishments.

Community Programming for Companion Dog Retention: A Survey of Animal Welfare Organizations

ABSTRACT Animal sheltering organizations in the United States offer programs to support dog ownership, yet little is known about what has been implemented across the U.S. In order to systematically examine factors sheltering organizations believe contribute to canine relinquishment and identify what programs they employ to address relinquishment in their communities, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey of U.S. animal sheltering organizations. In total, 111 participants from organizations serving dogs completed the organizational survey. Organizations believed a lack of access to affordable veterinary and behavioral services as well as affordable pet-friendly housing were common reasons for dog relinquishment. Most organizations offered at least one program to address relinquishment such as behavior helplines, pet food banks, and veterinary care. Reasons for discontinuing a program or not being able offer a program that was desired included lack of staff and other resources. Given limited resources, animal welfare organizations should strategically develop programs for their individual communities and actively work to partner with the veterinary and the canine behavior profession to provide necessary medical and behavioral resources.

Owner-Related Reasons Matter more than Behavioural Problems-A Study of Why Owners Relinquished Dogs and Cats to a Danish Animal Shelter from 1996 to 2017.

Every year, dogs and cats are relinquished to animal shelters by their owners in large numbers. Reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to a large Danish shelter from 1996 to 2017 were obtained and characterised. The reasons were available for 86% of the owner-relinquished animals, including 3204 dog relinquishments (90%) and 2755 cat relinquishments (82%). They were allocated to 59 categories, which were further merged into four owner-related and three animal-related reasons. The most commonly reported of these seven reasons for relinquishment of dogs were owner health (29%), animal behavioural problems (23%), housing issues (21%) and lack of time (14%). For cats, the figures were: owner health (32%), housing issues (26%), and animal behavioural problems (25%). No systematic changes in these patterns were found over time. The number of relinquished cats was roughly stable, whereas the number of relinquished dogs decreased on average by 3% per annum. Owner issues were the primary reason for relinquishment in both species, but nearly one-quarter of the animals were relinquished as a result of behavioural problems. As the latter are often connected with the owner in some way, the results emphasise the importance of a focus on owners when addressing pet relinquishment challenges.

Reported Acquisition Practices of Australian Dog Owners.

Simple SummaryThere are more than 205 pure-breeds of dogs and many mixed or cross-breeds available to those seeking to acquire a dog in Australia. It is estimated that 400,000 dogs are acquired annually but there is little information about how prospective owners make their choices and what canine attributes they prioritise when acquiring dogs. Attributes influencing owner’s choice include: physical appearance, behavioural characteristics, breed reputation, how a dog has been bred, perceived genetic soundness, and a dog’s need for rehoming or rescuing. This study considers the choices owners make in selecting their most recently acquired dogs and explores how owners prioritise various attributes. Analysis of survey results suggests that Australian dog owners fall into two distinct groups: one that prioritises the ability to rescue a dog, compatibility on meeting and how compatible they believe the dog will be with their family, and the second that prioritises attributes associated with how the dog was bred including morphotype, how a dog has been raised, genetic testing, and temperament predictability. Each group is making different but not substantially more optimal acquisition choices than one another.In Australia, the UK and the US dog ownership is prevalent with an estimated 40% of Australian households, 25% of UK households, and 50% of US households owning a dog. Once acquired, a dog usually becomes a family companion so, unlike a faulty product, it can rarely be returned or resold without some emotional impact on both the acquirer and the dog. Regarding the reality of dog relinquishment, there is a growing need for cross-disciplinary research that considers how dog owners are making their acquisition choices and, if prioritising different attributes, leads to more optimal acquisition choices. This research collected data from 2840 dog owners via an online survey and examines how owners prioritised various attributes when acquiring their latest dog. The Pearson-Blotchky analysis of survey results show owners are split into two groups, with each group prioritising different attributes or characteristics in their search for a new dog. The first group are those dog owners who prioritised: the ability to rescue a dog, how compatible the dog was on the first meeting, and how compatible they believed the dog would be with their household. The second group are those owners who prioritised: a dog’s morphology, temperament predictability, and breeding practices. While each group prioritised different attributes, neither group made substantially more optimal acquisition choices in terms of overall satisfaction with the dog that they ultimately selected.

“Getting Rid of the Dog”: Adult Recall of a Childhood Experience

AbstractDog relinquishment is common practice across Australia and in many other countries. The psychological impact of dog relinquishment is an under-researched area. While a few studies have shown that the dog relinquishment experience can be emotionally distressing and cognitively challenging for adults, nothing is known about the impact of the experience on children. This paper reports on the recollections of 10 adults, who in qualitative interviews in Western Australia, described their childhood experience of dog relinquishment. The findings suggest that children experiencing dog relinquishment feel powerless and voiceless, having no influence or say in what happens to their dogs. The experience can be cognitively and emotionally distressing, especially for children who are close to their dogs. Getting rid of a child’s loved dog can damage the parent-child relationship. In addition, the thoughts and feelings associated with losing their dogs in this way can remain long after the event.

Parent perceptions of the quality of life of pet dogs living with neuro-typically developing and neuro-atypically developing children: An exploratory study.

There is growing scientific and societal recognition of the role that pet dogs can play in healthy development of children; both those who are neuro-typically developing and those who live with a neuro-developmental disorder, such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, little attention has been paid to how living with children positively and negatively affects quality of life of a pet dog. In this exploratory study we conducted semi-structured interviews with parents of neuro-typically developing children (n = 18) and those with a neuro-developmental disorder (n = 18) who owned a pet dog, until no new factors were identified. Living with children brought potentially positive benefits to the dog’s life including: imposition of a routine, participation in recreational activities and the development of a strong bond between the child and the dog. The importance of maintaining a routine was particularly prevalent in families with children with neuro-developmental disorders. Potential negative factors included having to cope with child meltdowns and tantrums, over stimulation from child visitors, harsh contact and rough and tumble play with the child. The regularity and intensity of meltdowns and tantrums was particularly evident in responses from parents with children with a neuro-developmental disorder. However, child visitors and rough play and contact were mentioned similarly across the groups. Protective factors included having a safe haven for the dog to escape to, parent’s awareness of stress signs and child education in dog-interaction. Parents were also asked to complete a stress response scale to provide an initial quantitative comparison of stress responses between dogs living with the two family-types. Parents with neuro-typically developing children more frequently observed their dog rapidly running away from a situation and less frequently observed their dog widening their eyes, than parents with children with a neuro-developmental disorder. We propose the development of a stress audit based on the findings reported here, to prevent potential dangerous situations, which may lead to dog bites and dog relinquishment and allow owners to maximise the benefits of dog ownership.

0432 The human-animal bond: Science-based approaches to improving companion animal welfare and adoption outcomes

There is substantial literature documenting the myriad mutually beneficial effects of the human-animal bond. While such relationships typically enhance the health and well-being of both people and their animal companions, the bond can weaken or fail to be established if the animals do not meet the expectations of the people with whom they interact. The behavioral component of animal welfare is particularly important in this regard, and requires significant attention, as owners of companion animals are often intolerant of behavior problems. These include behaviors characterized as nuisances, such as excessive vocalizations, those that result in aggression toward people or other companion animals, or behaviors that result in injury to the animal or damage to property. Problem behaviors are among the most commonly stated reasons for cat and dog relinquishment, abandonment and euthanasia. Thus, understanding key factors that impact behavioral well-being in these species is important whether the animals are maintained in or intended to be rehomed from breeding programs, shelters, rescues or elsewhere. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment plan for meeting the needs of animal companions that includes their mental and behavioral well-being is necessary to protect the human–animal bond. It is therefore imperative to develop and validate key metrics of companion animal welfare that are practical for field as well as laboratory purposes. Considerations and challenges in developing such metrics will be reviewed, using the development of care and welfare standards for breeding dogs for illustrative purposes.

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

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.

Prevalence of canine behavior problems related to dog-human relationship in South Korea—A pilot study

This population study examined the prevalence of 10 common, broadly classified behavior problems exhibited by dogs reported by 174 dog owners in South Korea. Most respondents (147; 84.5%) stated that their dog exhibited at least one behavior problem. The main behavior problems reported by owners were excessive barking (82; 47.1% of all owners), inappropriate elimination (71; 40.8%), aggressive behavior (62; 35.6%), fearfulness (52; 29.9%), and separation anxiety (48; 27.6%). Male dogs were more likely to exhibit excessive barking and destructiveness than female dogs. Interestingly, neutered dogs showed more unacceptable behaviors than intact dogs, particularly excessive barking, aggression, and excessive activity. Young dogs were less likely than adult dogs to exhibit fearfulness or separation anxiety, but adult dogs were less likely than young dogs to exhibit destructiveness. Statistically significant associations were detected between at least one obedience training session per week and reduced inappropriate elimination (P < 0.05); between no obedience training and increased fearfulness (P < 0.05); between fewer walks and excessive barking (P < 0.05); and between being left home alone for 3 to 6 hours per day and excessive barking (P < 0.05), inappropriate elimination (P < 0.05), and destructiveness (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that there is a need for further detailed analyses of the various factors involved in behavioral problems in companion dogs. Such studies could be useful in improving the quality of the dog-human relationship and animal welfare in South Korea because they could lead to prevention of undesirable behavioral problems and reduction in dog relinquishment.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the proportion of dogs surrendered for dog-related and owner-related reasons

Companion-animal relinquishment is a worldwide phenomenon that leaves companion animals homeless. Knowing why humans make the decision to end their relationship with a companion-animal can help in our understanding of this complex societal issue and can help to develop preventive strategies. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize reasons why dogs are surrendered, and determine if certain study characteristics were associated with the reported proportions of reasons for surrender.Articles investigating one or more reasons for dog surrender were selected from the references of a published scoping review. Two reviewers assessed the titles and abstracts of these articles, identifying 39 relevant articles. From these, 21 articles were further excluded because of ineligible study design, insufficient data available for calculating a proportion, or no data available for dogs. Data were extracted from 18 articles and meta-analysis was conducted on articles investigating reasons for dog surrender to a shelter (n=9) or dog surrender for euthanasia (n=5). Three studies were excluded from meta-analysis because they were duplicate populations. Other reasons for excluding studies from meta-analysis were, (1) the study only investigated reasons for dog re-relinquishment (n=2) and (2) the study sample size was <10 (n=1). Two articles investigated reasons for both dog surrender to a shelter and dog surrender for euthanasia. Results of meta-analysis found owner health/illness as a reason for dog surrender to a shelter had an overall estimate of 4.6% (95% CI: 4.1%, 5.2%). For all other identified reasons for surrender there was significant variation in methodology among studies preventing further meta-analysis. Univariable meta-regression was conducted to explore sources of variation among these studies. Country was identified as a significant source of variation (p<0.01) among studies reporting behavioural problems as a reason for dog surrender for euthanasia. The overall estimate for studies from Australia was 10% (95% CI: 8.0%, 12.0%; I2=15.5%), compared to 16% (95% CI: 15.0%, 18.0%; I2=20.2%) for studies from other countries.The present systematic review and meta-analysis highlights the need for further research and standardization of data collection to improve understanding of the reasons for dog relinquishment.

Large Dog Relinquishment to Two Municipal Facilities in New York City and Washington, D.C.: Identifying Targets for Intervention.

Simple SummaryWhile the overall trend in euthanasia has been decreasing nationally, large dogs are at a higher risk of euthanasia than other-sized dogs in most animal shelters in the United States. We hypothesized that one way to increase the lives saved with regard to large dogs in shelters is to keep them home in the first place when possible. Our research is the first to collect data in New York City and Washington, D.C., identifying the process leading to the owner relinquishment of large dogs. We found that targets for interventions to decrease large dog relinquishment are likely different in each community. While the overall trend in euthanasia has been decreasing nationally, large dogs are at a higher risk of euthanasia than other sized dogs in most animal shelters in the United States. We hypothesized one way to increase the lives saved with respect to these large dogs is to keep them home when possible. In order to develop solutions to decrease relinquishment, a survey was developed to learn more about the reasons owners relinquish large dogs. The survey was administered to owners relinquishing their dogs at two large municipal facilities, one in New York City and one in Washington, D.C. There were 157 responses between the two facilities. We found both significant similarities and differences between respondents and their dogs from the two cities. We identified opportunities to potentially support future relinquishers and found that targets for interventions are likely different in each community.

The function, social implications and management of barking in dogs.

Abstract The function and social significance of barking in domestic dogs ( Canis familiaris ) is still not fully understood. Barking is poorly tolerated by some people, is frequently identified by owners as problem behaviour, is cited as a reason for the relinquishment of dogs to animal shelters and is a common cause for complaint to authorities. It is as yet unclear why many humans find barking disturbing. Despite a recent increase in research in this area, further work is needed to achieve a greater understanding of the behaviour itself and its impact on society and to establish humane and effective strategies to manage and control this 'socially unacceptable' canine behaviour. This paper reviews information on the purpose of and factors influencing barking in domestic dogs, the possible reasons for its negative impact on humans and methods of control and management.

Risk factors associated with behavioral problems in dogs

Abstract This cross-sectional study was carried out as a preliminary report on the prevalence and risk factors for owner-perceived behavioral problems in the dog population. A total of 232 owners were interviewed by means of an epidemiologic questionnaire in a hospital environment and data were analyzed using a logistic model. Statistical multivariate analysis confirmed the relationship between sex and age and inter-dog aggressiveness. Size of the dog was related to other aggressive behaviors (toward people and toward objects in movement) and different kinds of fears. Breeds classified as potentially dangerous did not show aggressiveness more often than the remaining ones. Sex, age, and size were linked with inappropriate elimination behavior and age of acquisition of the dog with destructive behaviors. These findings support previous contributions and suggest some new data on the epidemiology of behavioral on problems in domestic dogs, which could be useful to improve animal welfare through reducing dog relinquishment and abandonment by preventing undesirable behavioral problems.

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

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%).

The Bond That Never Developed: Adoption and Relinquishment of Dogs in a Rescue Shelter

This study carried out a survey in an Italian shelter to analyze adoptions resulting in the rejection of the newly adopted dog. The results of this study show that the number of dogs adopted and returned was stable during the study, that more females than males were adopted, and that males were more likely to be returned. Almost all the dogs were returned because of behavioral problems, and most were more than 6 months of age. Some dogs were returned more than once, with 20% of the people who adopted the same dog at different times reporting the same behavioral problem. Having a house with a yard, a garden, or a terrace appeared to be important for better management of the dog and influenced the length of adoption. Half of the adopters had previous experience as caregiver for a dog; compared to adopters who had no previous experience, however, they returned their companion animal after a shorter period and because of behavioral reasons. Understanding why adopters return their dogs to shelters is an important step toward attempting to minimize relinquishments and, thus, optimize adoptions.