Three Things to Know
Only 7-9% of U.S. rental housing lacks significant pet restrictions. A study examining housing-related pet relinquishments in the U.S. from 2019-2023 identified key barriers and characterized the species, breeds, and ages most affected.
The primary housing-related relinquishment factors were pet restrictions (e.g., breed or size bans, 27.3%), landlord disputes (8.4%), housing loss (5.4%), and relinquishments from unhoused individuals (5.2%). Notably, both large and small dogs were highly affected (20% and 19%, respectively), with mixed-breed dogs (35%) and pit bull-type dogs (16%) being the most commonly relinquished breeds.
Over the study period, a significant increase in relinquishments due to housing loss was observed, while those attributed to pet restrictions and landlord disputes decreased. This trend likely reflects broader housing affordability challenges, despite potential progress in reducing pet-related restrictions. Furthermore, a decline in the average age of surrendered animals suggests a potential consequence of pandemic-related disruptions to spay/neuter services.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Housing-related pet relinquishment remains a global challenge, as evidenced by other studies conducted in Canada and in Denmark. While this study indicates a positive trend of decreasing pet restrictions over time, animal shelters and humane societies continue to struggle to maintain pet-family bonds.
The alarmingly low return-to-owner rate of 4%, meaning 96% of relinquished dogs are permanently separated from their families, underscores this critical issue. Although most dogs are subsequently adopted or transferred, this highlights a significant failure in preventing initial relinquishment.
The rising incidence of housing loss cases demands a collaborative, community-wide response from animal welfare advocates and other non-profit organizations. Implementing temporary boarding solutions could provide essential support during periods of housing instability, thereby reducing shelter intake and preventing the dual loss of home and pet.
Given the well-documented pandemic-related disruption to spay/neuter services, animal welfare advocates must prioritize addressing this issue, potentially through the establishment of additional spay/neuter clinics.
The Full Picture
Pets are widely considered family members, and their presence can improve human health. However, rental housing policies in the U.S. often include restrictions, bans, or extra fees related to pet ownership, which can negatively impact both people and pets. These policies disproportionately affect socially and economically marginalized groups—such as low-income individuals, older adults, BIPOC communities, and those with large or specific dog breeds. In particular, only 7 to 9% of all U.S. rental housing is free from major pet restrictions.
Estimates showed that about 72% of renters have pets, meaning millions of households are subject to inconsistent pet policies. Since 2019, rising rents have made housing even less affordable, particularly for low-income and BIPOC-headed households. Despite this, very few studies have explored how often pets are surrendered to shelters for housing-related reasons.
This study, titled “Housing-related companion animal relinquishment across 21 animal shelters in the United States from 2019–2023”, aims to explore:
- The proportion of shelter intakes related to housing issues.
- The characteristics of animals relinquished for housing reasons.
- The outcomes of these animals.
- Trends in housing-related intakes by intake type, species, size, and (for dogs) breed.
Study Methods
The study uses intake data collected by Human-Animal Support Services (HASS) from 21 pilot shelters across the United States between November 2019 and December 2023. It focuses on 28,424 intake records related specifically to housing issues. Shelters included in the dataset vary in structure (nonprofit vs. municipal), intake numbers (ranging from 1,026 to 41,047 in 2023), and programs offered.
Study Results
Housing-related intakes accounted for 14% of all cases at the pilot shelters. Since housing-related pet relinquishment varies widely between 7% and 33% across different shelters, the findings suggest that local housing policies and market conditions may significantly influence pet surrender trends.
Of the records examined, 53.7% did not have a reason specified. The remainder included pet-related restrictions (e.g., breed or size bans, 27.3%), landlord issues (8.4%), loss of housing (5.4%), and animals belonging to unhoused individuals (5.2%).
Animals Relinquished Due to Housing Issues
In terms of animal characteristics, both large dogs (20%) and small dogs (19%) were the most commonly relinquished due to housing, followed by cats, who made up 37% of housing-related intakes. The median intake age was about 2 years (730 days), with 25% under one year old. Dogs were typically older than cats at intake.
“Mixed breed” was the most common dog type (35%), followed by pit bull-type dogs (16% of dogs), Chihuahuas, Labradors, and German Shepherds. Pit bulls were notably overrepresented in landlord-related intakes.
This data suggests that housing-related challenges go beyond size or breed restrictions, and solutions must be inclusive of all pet types. While smaller dogs are often assumed to be more suitable for rental housing, this perception may overlook the suitability of many large dogs for apartment living.
Outcomes of Housing-Relinquished Animals
Around 95% of these animals had a live outcome. Most were adopted (76%), transferred (12%), or returned to their owners (3%). Cats had a higher adoption rate (82%) than dogs (72%). Pit bull-type dogs had a higher euthanasia rate (13%) and were less likely to be adopted compared to other breeds, but they were more often returned to owners or placed in foster care.
Despite the strong outcome, disparities still exist. Pets surrendered due to pet restrictions or those that were young and/or small had higher chances of live outcomes, while pit bull-type dogs, older animals, and those surrendered by unhoused individuals faced lower odds. The reasons behind the poorer outcomes for pets from unhoused individuals remain unclear, though it’s possible that these pets struggle with the transition from outdoor, owner-accompanied living to the confined, human-absent environment of a shelter. These findings highlight the urgent need for programs designed to keep unhoused individuals and their pets together, both to preserve the human-animal bond and to reduce euthanasia rates in this vulnerable group.
Time trends in housing intakes
Over the study period, notable shifts were observed in the reasons animals were relinquished due to housing issues. Intakes resulting from loss of housing increased significantly, while those attributed to pet restrictions and landlord-related problems declined. Other subtypes did not show significant changes over time. Geographically, the data revealed a northward shift in housing-related pet relinquishments, aligning with rising housing costs in northern and coastal areas. This may reflect gradual improvements in pet-friendly housing policies, even as housing insecurity and homelessness worsen nationwide.
Throughout the study period, dog relinquishments — particularly of large and pit bull-type dogs — decreased, while cat intakes rose. These shifts may reflect changing public policies and cultural attitudes toward dogs, including the repeal of breed-specific legislation in cities like Denver and Miami. Simultaneously, the average age and weight of animals being relinquished declined, possibly due to disruptions in spay/neuter services during the COVID-19 pandemic or broader demographic shifts in the types of pets entering shelters. Despite these changes, live outcome rates declined over time, which may signal growing pressures from shelter overcrowding and limited resources.
Further Considerations to Housing-Related Pet Relinquishment
This study provides compelling evidence to support ongoing policy efforts aimed at creating more inclusive pet-related housing policies, particularly for dogs labeled as pit bull-types. These breeds continue to face higher rates of relinquishment and lower adoption rates.
Beyond breed-specific issues, the findings highlight the need to address broader housing challenges that contribute to pet relinquishment, such as affordability concerns and arbitrary pet ownership restrictions. Interestingly, cats and small dogs — typically unaffected by breed and size policies — still represent a significant proportion of relinquished pets.
This suggests that current housing policies may inadequately protect these animals, particularly in relation to unjustifiable pet rents and restrictive pet number limits. For example, cat owners may be charged extra fees despite their pets not using shared amenities like dog parks or waste stations. Restrictions on the number of pets allowed in rental units also warrant scrutiny. These limits are often justified by concerns over hoarding or nuisance issues but may disproportionately impact responsible pet owners—particularly cat owners—given that households typically have more cats than dogs.
Another notable finding is the low rate (4%) of dogs returned to their original owners. Although the majority of dogs were either adopted or transferred, this highlights a gap in efforts to keep pets and families together. Previous research shows that housing-related challenges are a leading cause of involuntary relinquishment, and with most pet owners viewing their pets as family, it’s likely many would have preferred to keep their animals. This underscores the need for shelters and funding partners to expand support services, such as temporary fostering, landlord mediation, legal aid, and financial assistance for pet-related fees.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Reducing Shelter Intake > Reasons for Intake
Year of Publication:
2024
External Link:
Applebaum JW, Loney L, Horecka K and Graham TM (2024) Housing-related companion animal relinquishment across 21 animal shelters in the United States from 2019–2023. Front. Vet. Sci. 11:1430388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1430388