Dog shelters across the world have consistently struggled under the pressure of owner surrenders, which seemed to have only increased after the pandemic. Researchers have conducted multiple studies to understand the root causes of these surrenders. This blog post compiles key findings from academic studies to help humane societies develop more effective programs.
Owner Surrender Statistics
Geographic and Demographic Trends
1. The United States leads in dog relinquishment rates. A large-scale multinational survey showed that 9.9% of US respondents had considered or actually surrendered their dogs, compared to Canada (6.4%), Spain (5.8%), Italy (4.4%), and the UK (3.0%).
2. Male owners surrender dogs more frequently than female owners. Male survey respondents of this same survey had a 50% increased probability of relinquishment compared to females.
3. Families with children relinquish pets at significantly higher rates. Households with children were 4.6 times more likely to consider or have relinquished a dog compared to those without children.
Top Reasons for Surrender
4. Owner-related issues routinely drove three quarters of surrender across regions. This includes close to 80% of the cases in British Columbia, Canada, 75% of the cases in Aarhus, Denmark, and 70% of the cases in Colorado.
5. But behavior problems consistently rank as a leading cause for surrender across regions. A 5-year Colorado study (2018-2023) showed that 28% of pets were surrendered due to behavior issues, followed by housing (18%), inability to care (16%), and too many pets (10%).
6. Dogs are more likely to be surrendered for aggression than cats. Dogs were more frequently surrendered for behavior issues (35%) than cats (21%), with 35% of those behavioral issues relating to aggression.
7. Despite this, owners considering surrender often reject behavioral assistance. A UK study found that despite offering free behavioral advice upon relinquishment requests, only 24% of owners accepted this assistance, with acceptance rates varying by problem type: aggression between dogs (11%), separation anxiety (26%), aggression toward people (28%), and general management behaviors (43%).
8. Urban and rural communities face different challenges leading to surrender. A 12-year study (2008-2019) in British Columbia, Canada found that dogs surrendered for “too many dogs” — the leading cause of relinquishment — are 6 times more likely to come from small population centers. On the other hand, dogs surrendered for housing issues are 1.6 times more likely to come from large population centers.
9. In some European countries, owner health is the primary surrender factor. A 22-year study (1996-2017) in Denmark showed that owner health accounted for 29% of surrenders, followed by behavior (23%), housing issues (21%), and lack of time (14%).
10. The pandemic created unique surrender pressures. An international survey during COVID-19 highlighted financial constraints (44.2%), health concerns specific to COVID-19 (32.6%), behavioral concerns (30.9%), and safety concerns/aggression (21.5%) as primary surrender reasons.
Social Vulnerability Impact
11. Shelter intake rates increase dramatically with social vulnerability. In the US, 9 dogs come from every 1,000 households in the most secure 20%, while 36 come from the 4th quintile and 61 come from the most vulnerable 20%.
12. Socially vulnerable areas disproportionately contribute to shelter populations. 62% of owner-surrendered dogs, 68% of seized dogs, and 74% of strays come from the bottom 40% of socially vulnerable areas.
13. Young dogs predominantly originate from vulnerable communities. More than 83% of young dogs entering shelters come from socially vulnerable areas, llikely due to higher free-roaming populations and lower spay/neuter coverage.
14. Surrender reasons vary significantly by socioeconomic status. Dogs from the top 20% of households are more likely surrendered due to behaviors (30%) and owner preferences (30%), while housing and cost issues predominate in the bottom 20%.
15. Dogs from vulnerable areas face different shelter outcomes. Dogs from the most vulnerable 20% of households are less likely to be adopted (48% compared to 61% in the top 20%) and are more likely to be transferred out (28% vs. 13%).
16. Lower-income owners utilize different rehoming methods. People earning under $15,000 are 4 times as likely to give their dogs to friends or relatives compared to those making $100,000+, meaning shelter statistics undercount total rehoming occurrences.
Housing-Related Surrenders
17. Pet restrictions represent the biggest housing-related surrender factor. Housing accounts up to one in five owner surrender cases, with pet-related restrictions (breed and size bans) accounting for 27.3% of housing-related pet relinquishments.
18. Housing restrictions affect dogs of all sizes fairly equally. Large, medium, and small dogs make up 36%, 34%, and 30% of housing-related relinquishments, respectively.
19. Mixed breeds and certain specific breeds face higher housing-related surrender rates. Mixed breeds constitute 35% of housing surrenders, followed by American Pit Bull Terriers (12%), Chihuahuas (5%), and Labrador Retrievers (5%).
20. Few dogs surrendered for housing issues ever return to their original owners. Only 4% of all dogs relinquished due to housing issues were eventually returned to their original owners.
Return Statistics
21. Adopted animals are returned at concerning rates. Studies show return rates range from 15% to 22% of all adoptions.
22. The first month of adoption presents the highest return risk. One survey found that the median length of ownership for returned animals was just 8 days, while another highlighted that 42% of dogs were returned within 30 days of adoption.
23. Behavior issues dominate as the primary reason for returns. Behavior problems account for 59% of returns in Colorado, 56% in Texas, and 48% in Aarhus, Denmark.
24. Owner expectations play a crucial role in returns. Owners who returned dogs typically had higher expectations for their pets’ behavior, particularly regarding friendliness with children, adaptability to new situations, and home behavior.
25. The dog ownership adjustment period significantly impacts retention. Only 50% of adopters found dog ownership easier than expected after two days, though this increased to 67% after four months.
Key Steps for Shelters and Humane Societies
The path to reducing owner surrenders lies in shelters becoming proactive community resources rather than last resorts. By addressing the root causes before they lead to surrender, humane societies can make significant progress toward keeping more dogs in loving homes.
Community-Focused Approach
- Adopt a proactive stance: Rather than reacting to surrenders, develop programs addressing community-specific challenges.
- Targeted interventions: Gather data to pinpoint areas that contribute disproportionately to shelter intake and focus resources.
- Community integration: Become fully embedded in the community, offering services beyond sheltering.
Address Specific Issues
- Spay/neuter services: Provide affordable and accessible options for communities with stray overpopulation.
- Behavioral support:
- Train dogs while in the shelter using volunteers
- Offer immediate training courses post-adoption
- Create community support groups for owners during the critical first month
- Youth programs: Establish educational initiatives for children to promote responsible pet ownership, strengthen child-dog relationships, and reduce the likelihood of surrender by households with children (who are 4.6 times more likely to relinquish pets).
- Housing support: Develop programs addressing housing insecurity and advocate against breed restrictions.
Build Partnerships
- Collaborate with other dog welfare advocates, community organizations, and local businesses to promote programs.
Conclusion: Moving from Reaction to Prevention
The statistics presented in this analysis paint a clear picture: dog surrenders are not random events but predictable outcomes driven by identifiable factors. Housing issues, behavioral problems, financial constraints, and family dynamics consistently emerge as primary surrender drivers across different regions and demographics.
The data suggests that the most effective interventions will combine practical support (such as affordable veterinary care and housing assistance), behavioral resources (training classes and support groups during the critical first month of adoption), and community education (especially for families with children).
Remember that each community faces unique challenges. The patterns may be similar, but the specific needs of your region will vary. Use these statistics to inform your approach, but take the time to analyze your local surrender data to develop truly effective interventions.
By transforming from last-resort shelters into proactive community resources, humane societies can address the root causes of surrenders before they occur. This shift not only reduces the burden on shelter systems but also prevents the emotional trauma of separation for both dogs and their families—ultimately creating stronger, more humane communities for all.
Ready to take the next step? Use these five graphics to help guide your transformation from a traditional shelter to a proactive, community-based pet resource center..