Data and facts about efforts to reduce sheler intake.
Jump to: Overview | Behavioral Advice
Highlights
Overview
Jump to: Shelter Transformation (US)
Transformation Following Implementation of Best Practices on Live Outcome (US)
External link:
Kreisler RE, Pugh AA, Pemberton K and Pizano S (2022) The Impact of Incorporating Multiple Best Practices on Live Outcomes for a Municipal Animal Shelter in Memphis, TN. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:786866. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.786866
Live Release Rates (LRR)
- Cats:
- Pre-2017 median LRR: 35%.
- Post-2017 median LRR: 92%.
- Previously, LRR increased 6% annually (2008-2017).
- Dogs:
- Pre-2017 median LRR: 25%.
- Post-2017 (2017-2021) LRR: Just under 90%.
- Intake Correlation:
- Before 2017: LRR for both cats and dogs was strongly correlated with intake (linear for cats, sigmoid for dogs).
- After 2017: No significant relationship between intake and LRR for either cats or dogs.
Managed Strategic Intake
- Cat Intake:
- Pre-2017 median: 2,188 per year (decreasing by 138 per year).
- Post-2017: No significant change.
- Dog Intake:
- Pre-2017 median: 10,764 per year (decreasing by 937 per year).
- Post-2017: No significant change.
Pet Owner Safety Net
- Cat Intake Composition:
- Pre-2017: 46% stray, 50% owner surrender.
- Post-2017: 49% stray, 29% owner surrender (significant decrease).
- Dog Intake Composition:
- Pre-2017: 63% stray, 28% owner surrender.
- Post-2017: 69% stray, 17% owner surrender (significant decrease).
- PRC Call Data (2021): Out of 4,394 calls:
- 32% for rehoming support.
- 28% for pet food/supplies.
- 20% for medical care assistance.
- 19% for other pet retention.
Community Cat Return to Field (RTF)
- Cats Returned: Median of 101 cats returned to field annually post-intervention (range 26-207).
- Constituent Support: 25% of constituents agreed to provide post-surgery transportation.
- Kitten Intake:
- Pre-2017: Kittens (<5 months) were 52% of all cat intake.
- Post-2017: Increased to 61% of all cat intake.
- Kitten Euthanasia:
- Pre-2017: Median 59% of kittens euthanized (686 per year).
- Post-2017: Decreased to median 3% of kittens euthanized (27 per year).
- Kitten LRR:
- Pre-2017: Median 34%.
- Post-2017: Increased to median 92%.
- Kitten Death in Shelter: Increased from 2% (median 23 per year) pre-2017 to 4% (median 42 per year) post-2017.
- Adult Cat Death in Shelter: Remained at 1% both before and after intervention.
Field Services Transition
- Cat Return to Owner (RTO) Rate:
- Pre-2017 median: 2%.
- Post-2017 median: 2% (no significant change, consistently below national average of 3%).
- Dog RTO Rate:
- Pre-2017 median: 10%.
- Post-2017 (2017-2021) median: Increased to 13% (still below national average of 22%).
- 161 dogs were reunited in the field in 2021, not reflected in RTO numbers.
- Stray Pick-up Distance (MAS Analysis 2020-2021): Median distance from owner’s home to stray pick-up was 0.5 miles (range 0 to 18.3 miles).
- Field Service Calls (2019-2020):
- 54% for stray roam.
- 24% for stray aggressive.
- 13% for bite/dangerous.
- 8% for welfare investigation.
Streamlined Adoption and Transfer
- Cat Adoption Rate:
- Pre-2017 median: 28%.
- Post-2017 median: Increased to 72%.
- Showed an immediate 20% increase post-intervention, continuing to rise 4% annually.
- Dog Adoption Rate:
- Pre-2017 median: 17%.
- Post-2017 median: Increased to 36%..
Research Summary | Back to Top
Behavioral Advice
Jump to: Effectiveness of Behavioral Advice (UK)
Effectiveness of Behavioral Advice by Behavioral Issues (UK)
External link:
Powdrill-Wells N, Taylor S, Melfi V. Reducing Dog Relinquishment to Rescue Centres Due to Behaviour Problems: Identifying Cases to Target with an Advice Intervention at the Point of Relinquishment Request. Animals. 2021; 11(10):2766. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102766
Demographics of Dogs Facing Relinquishment
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Dog Sex | |
| Male | 62.5 |
| Female | 37.5 |
| Neuter Status | |
| Neutered | 59.0 |
| Entire | 41.0 |
| Dog Age | |
| <0.5 years | 3.4 |
| 0.5–<2 years | 32.5 |
| 2–<7 years | 48.5 |
| 7–<12 years | 14.3 |
| ≥12 years | 1.2 |
| Breed Group | |
| Crossbreed | 52.7 |
| Gundog | 7.3 |
| Hound | 3.7 |
| Pastoral | 6.3 |
| Terrier | 16.4 |
| Toy | 4.2 |
| Utility | 4.9 |
| Working | 4.5 |
| Crossbreed | |
| Yes | 52.7 |
| No | 47.3 |
| Dog Acquired From | |
| Family/Acquaintance | 22.6 |
| Internet/Social media | 22.4 |
| Breeder | 21.0 |
| Wood Green | 17.3 |
| Rescue/Charity | 7.6 |
| Private sale | 4.3 |
| Other/Unknown | 2.5 |
| Own litter | 2.2 |
| Advice Accepted | |
| Yes | 24.4 |
| No | 75.6 |
| Category | Aggression between Dogs in the Home | Aggression around Children | Aggression around People | Aggression towards Owner | Aggression around Dogs | Anxious or Obsessive Behaviour | Separation or Destruction Related | Excessive Vocalisation or Hyperactivity | General Management Behaviour | Mixing with Other Animals | Inappropriate Toileting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | N(%) | |
| Dog Sex | |||||||||||
| Male | 118 (16.7) | 139(19.7) | 101(14.3) | 84(11.9) | 52(7.4) | 22(3.1) | 73(10.3) | 52(7.4) | 29(4.1) | 16(2.3) | 21(3.0) |
| Female | 110 (25.9) | 79(18.6) | 27(6.4) | 33(7.8) | 30(7.1) | 13(3.1) | 42(9.9) | 31(7.3) | 18(4.2) | 28(6.6) | 13(3,1) |
| Dog Age | |||||||||||
| <0.5 yr | 8(20.5) | 3(7.7) | 1(2.6) | 6(15.4) | 1(2.6) | – | 1(2.6) | 5(12.8) | 8(20.5) | 2(5.1) | 4(10.3) |
| 0.5–<2 yr | 62 (16.8) | 53(14.4) | 43(11.7) | 41(11.1) | 14(3.8) | 11(3.0) | 43(11.7) | 48(13.0) | 24(6.5) | 24(6.5) | 5(1.4) |
| 2–<7 yr | 131 (23.9) | 113(20.6) | 63(11.5 | 57(10.4) | 46(8.4) | 19(3.5) | 45(8.2) | 23(4.2) | 14(2.6) | 17(3.1) | 20(3.6) |
| 7–<12 yr | 26 (16.0) | 46(28.4) | 19(11.7) | 12(7.4) | 20(12.3) | 5(3.1) | 21(13.0) | 7(4.3) | 1(0.6) | 1(0.6) | 4(2.5) |
| ≥12 yr | 1(7.1) | 3(21.4) | 2(14.3) | 1(7.1) | 1(7.1) | – | 5(35.7) | – | – | – | 1(7.1) |
Owner Acceptance of Behavioural Advice by Dog Demographics
| Advice Accepted by Owner? | Yes % | No % |
|---|---|---|
| Category | ||
| Dog Sex | ||
| Male | 26.7 | 73.3 |
| Female | 20.5 | 79.5 |
| Neuter Status | ||
| Neutered | 27.7 | 72.3 |
| Entire | 19.6 | 80.4 |
| Dog Age | ||
| <0.5 years | 33.3 | 66.7 |
| 0.5–<2 years | 26.9 | 73.1 |
| 2–<7 years | 23.0 | 77.0 |
| 7–<12 years | 21.0 | 79.0 |
| ≥12 years | 28.6 | 71.4 |
| Breed Group | ||
| Crossbreed | 26.2 | 73.8 |
| Gundog | 22.0 | 78.0 |
| Hound | 28.6 | 71.4 |
| Pastoral | 29.6 | 70.4 |
| Terrier | 22.6 | 77.4 |
| Toy | 14.6 | 85.4 |
| Utility | 20.0 | 80.0 |
| Working | 17.6 | 82.4 |
| Crossbreed | ||
| Yes | 26.2 | 73.8 |
| No | 22.4 | 77.6 |
| Dog Acquired From | ||
| Family/Acquaintance | 14.8 | 85.2 |
| Internet/Social media | 22.1 | 77.9 |
| Breeder | 23.9 | 76.1 |
| Wood Green | 40.3 | 59.7 |
| Rescue/Charity | 32.6 | 67.4 |
| Private sale | 18.4 | 81.6 |
| Other/Unknown | 14.3 | 85.7 |
| Own litter | 20.0 | 80.0 |
Owner Acceptance of Behavioural Advice by Relinquishment Reasons
| Category | All Dogs N (%) | Advice Yes N (%) | Advice No N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggression between dogs in home | 228 (20.2) | 26 (11.4) | 202 (88.6) |
| General management behaviours | 47 (4.2) | 20 (42.6) | 27 (57.4) |
| Anxious or obsessive behaviour | 35 (3.1) | 12 (34.3) | 23 (65.7) |
| Aggression around dogs | 82 (7.3) | 27 (32.9) | 55 (67.1) |
| Aggression towards owner | 117 (10.3) | 33 (28.2) | 84 (71.8) |
| Aggression around people | 128 (11.3) | 36 (28.1) | 92 (71.9) |
| Aggression around children | 218 (19.3) | 60 (27.5) | 158 (72.5) |
| Separation or destruction related behaviours | 115 (10.2) | 30 (26.1) | 85 (73.9) |
| Excessive vocalisation or hyperactivity | 83 (7.3) | 20 (24.1) | 63 (75.9) |
| Mixing with other animals | 44 (3.9) | 7 (15.9) | 37 (84.1) |
| Inappropriate toileting | 34 (3.0) | 5 (14.7) | 29 (85.3) |