Three Things to Know
Researchers analyzed owner-relinquished dog records from the BC SPCA spanning 2008 to 2019, aiming to identify primary relinquishment reasons, associated dog demographics, and correlations with community size and dog health.
Their findings revealed that guardian-related factors dominated relinquishments, accounting for 73% of cases. Specifically, “too many dogs” constituted 20% of relinquishments, followed by housing issues (17%) and guardian-related challenges like time constraints (15%). Behavioral issues, in contrast, represented only 10% of cases.
To address these findings and reduce relinquishment rates, the researchers proposed several intervention strategies. These included expanding access to spay/neuter services, establishing a landlord reimbursement program to improve housing accessibility for pet owners, and providing short-term boarding or dog walking assistance to alleviate guardian burden.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
Owner-surrender patterns exhibited significant geographic variation. For instance, large urban centers in this study saw relinquishments driven primarily by housing and personal challenges, contrasting sharply with smaller communities where overpopulation was the dominant factor. This localized trend was further underscored by a comparative study: while research in Colorado, U.S., identified behavioral issues as the leading cause of surrender (28%), this Canadian study revealed that these issues accounted for a mere 10% of cases.
Consequently, larger humane societies operating multiple shelters should critically evaluate the universality of their programs. Tailoring services to address the specific needs of each community, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, could prove more effective.
To mitigate owner relinquishment, researchers highlighted several key strategies, including easily implementable programs like community-based boarding and dog walking assistance. Dog welfare organizations are encouraged to examine these proposed solutions for potential adoption.
Finally, humane societies must approach owner-reported surrender reasons with cultural sensitivity. Self-reported data can be influenced by various factors, such as social desirability, potentially masking the true underlying causes of relinquishment.
The Full Picture
Guardian relinquishment accounts for a significant portion of shelter intake in North America and is often driven more by human circumstances than a weak bond with the animal. Past research has identified general categories for relinquishment reasons. However, there is a lack of detailed data on how specific animal characteristics (such as size, age, breed, sex, and health) and regional differences affect relinquishment patterns. Canada, and especially British Columbia (BC), is underrepresented in this area of study. Understanding these factors can help design targeted interventions to reduce shelter intake and keep dogs with their guardians.
This study, titled “Reasons for Guardian-Relinquishment of Dogs to Shelters: Animal and Regional Predictors in British Columbia, Canada”, aims to fill that gap by analyzing dog characteristics and regional factors associated with specific reasons for relinquishment in BC. The authors hypothesize that different characteristics will predict different relinquishment reasons and that regional trends will emerge.
Study Methods
This study analyzed guardian-relinquished dog records from the BC SPCA’s ShelterBuddy database, covering the years 2008 to 2019. Data included dog-specific variables such as ID, intake date, region, reason for relinquishment, breed, age group, sex, weight, spay/neuter status, and health status based on the Asilomar Accords categories (Healthy, Treatable-Rehabilitatable (TR), Treatable-Manageable (TM), or Unhealthy-Untreatable (UU)).
Relinquishment was defined as any instance where a dog was voluntarily surrendered by a guardian, including cases of abandonment and euthanasia requests. Trends over time were examined, and differences in relinquishment reasons were explored separately for puppies and adult dogs.
Study Results
From 2008 to 2019, overall dog intake at BC SPCA shelters declined, but the proportion of dogs surrendered by guardians remained relatively stable, ranging between 31–35% annually. In total, 98,911 dogs entered 36 BC SPCA shelters during the study period. Of these, 32,081 (approximately 32%) were relinquished by their guardians.
Spay/Neuter Status of Surrendered Dogs
An analysis of spay and neuter rates revealed a correlation with population center size. In smaller centers, the overall sterilization rate was 61%, increasing to 70% when accounting only for dogs over six months of age. This trend continued in medium-sized centers, where overall rates reached 67% and 74% for older dogs. The highest rates were observed in large population centers, with 74% of all dogs sterilized and 80% of dogs over six months. This data suggests a potential relationship between access to veterinary services or cultural norms and spay/neuter rates.
Owner Relinquishment Reasons
Reasons for relinquishment were made up of three categories:
- Guardian-related reasons (73%)
- Animal-related reasons (11%)
- Other or unknown reasons (12%)
This table summarizes dog relinquishment risks by the most common reasons:
| Owner Relinquishment Reason | Key Findings | Dogs Most Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Too many dogs (19%) | Most common reason; increased over time. More than 7x more common in small population areas, followed by medium population centers (3x). | Significantly more likely for puppies, but also affects small dogs. Less likely for seniors and suspected purebreds. |
| Housing issues (17%) | Lower odds in small population centers. | Less likely for puppies and young adults, more likely for seniors. TM dogs are less likely to be relinquished for this reason. |
| Guardian personal issues (15%) | Often due to lack of time, too much responsibility, or inability to provide care.Less common in small and medium population centers. | Less likely for puppies, more likely for males. Dogs with medical needs are less likely to be relinquished than Healthy dogs. |
| Financial Issues (10%) | Less common in small population centers. Slight decrease over time. | More likely for puppies. Dogs with medical needs are more affected. Males less likely to be relinquished. |
| Behavioral issues (10%) | Most common animal-related reason; includes hyperactivity, barking, destruction, escaping. Increased over time. | Less likely for puppies and seniors. Less likely for TR dogs and small dogs. |
| Guardian health (8%) | Mainly human-related; affects certain populations more (e.g., elderly guardians). Less common in small population centers. | Less likely for puppies and young adults, more likely for seniors. More likely for small dogs. |
Summary Observations
The most common reason for giving up dogs was having too many animals, and this became more frequent over time. Puppies and smaller dogs were especially at risk for this reason, as were dogs in smaller or more remote communities. This may reflect limited access to sterilization services in those areas. Offering low-cost spay/neuter options and improving access to veterinary care could help reduce such relinquishments.
For puppies, the most common guardian-related reason for surrender was having “too many” dogs. For adult dogs, the most common reason was housing issues. Personal issues were the second most frequent reason for both groups. Among animal-related reasons, behavioral problems were the most cited for both puppies and adults, particularly issues like high activity, barking, destructiveness, and escaping.
In summary, guardian-related reasons dominated both adult and puppy relinquishments. Furthermore, “Too many” was the top reason for puppy relinquishment, while “housing issues” led for adult dogs. Behavior-related reasons were common animal-related causes across both age groups.
Changes Proposed to Reduce Owner Relinquishment
The most common reason for giving up dogs was having too many animals, especially for dogs in smaller or more remote communities. Offering low-cost spay/neuter options and improving access to veterinary care could help reduce such relinquishments.
Policy changes — such as encouraging inclusive housing laws and offering simple supports like pet deposits — could help people keep their pets. Creative approaches, like landlord reimbursement programs, have shown success in San Francisco, and could be adapted in BC.
Personal issues — like a lack of time, energy, or ability to care for the dog — also contributed to relinquishment, especially in large cities.The findings point to the need for better support for urban pet guardians, who may face limited space or time constraints. Simple services like dog walking or short-term boarding could make a meaningful difference.
Behavioral issues, especially those like hyperactivity, destruction, or aggression, were the most common animal-related reasons for relinquishment. Larger dogs were more often affected, possibly because their behaviors are harder to manage or more disruptive in tight living spaces. While behavioral challenges didn’t differ much by region, interventions that connect guardians with behavior support or training — particularly early on — could help prevent many of these relinquishments. Even basic assistance, like fence repairs or house-training support, could help some guardians keep their dogs.
Cost-related reasons for relinquishment were also common, especially among dogs with health conditions. Interestingly, only a small number of dogs were relinquished due to health issues alone — most guardians cited the cost of care as the main barrier. This underscores the importance of expanding free or subsidized veterinary care as a strategy to keep pets with their families.
Guardians’ own health issues also led to some relinquishments, with senior dogs, small dogs, and those in large urban centers more likely to be affected. While some of these situations (e.g., serious illness or death) are unavoidable, others could be supported through temporary boarding or community-based assistance, especially considering the mental and emotional benefits of pet companionship for elderly individuals.
Finally, contrary to popular belief, very few dogs were relinquished because they were unwanted or given as gifts. Just 4% were turned in for being “no longer wanted,” reinforcing that most people value their dogs and only relinquish them due to unavoidable or difficult circumstances.
Conclusion
In British Columbia, Canada, most dogs were not given up because they were unwanted or problematic, but because of challenges faced by their guardians—suggesting opportunities for targeted support and interventions. The findings point to several region-specific intervention opportunities, including addressing overpopulation in smaller communities, expanding inclusive housing options in urban areas, offering care and behavior support for busy guardians, and increasing access to affordable veterinary care. Together, these efforts could significantly reduce the number of dogs entering shelters and support both human and animal well-being across the province.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Reducing Shelter Intake > Reasons for Intake
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Eagan BH, Gordon E and Protopopova A (2022) Reasons for Guardian-Relinquishment of Dogs to Shelters: Animal and Regional Predictors in British Columbia, Canada. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:857634. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.857634