Three Things to Know
Some shelters have implemented brief outing programs, allowing community members and volunteers to take shelter dogs off-site for enrichment purposes. These outings may involve walks in urban or outdoor areas, or even visits to volunteer homes. Researchers sought to understand how these programs affect the dogs’ activity levels and stress levels.
As expected, dogs exhibited the highest levels of activity during the outings. Interestingly, the dogs also showed the highest levels of stress during these periods. This elevated stress may be attributed to the need to interact with unfamiliar people and navigate novel environments. Importantly, both activity levels and stress levels returned to baseline levels on the day following the outing.
While these brief outings may not have directly reduced a dog’s stress levels, they may offer other valuable benefits. For example, these programs can significantly increase a dog’s visibility within the community. Researchers suggest dog shelters to further improve these programs by incorporating low-stress activities.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners:
This research suggests that while brief outing programs may not directly reduce stress in shelter dogs, they may offer other valuable benefits. These programs can enhance socialization, increase community visibility, as well as attract new volunteers through low-commitment opportunities. Success hinges on setting clear outing objectives for each dog and providing volunteers with easy-to-follow plans.
The study also found that shelters with earlier closing hours may experience lower stress levels in their dogs. This finding suggests that reducing public access during certain hours can create a quieter and less stressful environment for the dogs.
However, it’s crucial to note that reducing shelter operating hours may potentially hinder adoption efforts, as increased public visibility is linked to higher adoption rates. To balance the need for stress reduction with the importance of maximizing adoption opportunities, shelters can consider implementing strategies such as:
- Quiet Hours: Designating specific times of day for reduced public access or quiet time within certain areas of the shelter.
- Limited Kennel Access: Showcasing only a selection of kennels to the public at any given time, reducing overall noise and visual stimulation.
These strategies can help create a more peaceful environment for the dogs while still allowing for adequate public interaction and adoption opportunities.
The Full Picture
Shelter environments can be highly stressful for dogs, with factors like constant noise, limited space, social isolation, separation from familiar caregivers, and disrupted routines all contributing to their distress. Research consistently demonstrates that shelter dogs typically exhibit higher cortisol levels and experience less restful periods compared to dogs living in homes.
To improve the well-being of their dogs, dog shelters are increasingly deploying enrichment interventions, particularly human interaction. Studies have shown that temporary foster placements can significantly benefit shelter dogs, leading to reduced stress and improved rest. However, the impact of shorter outings, where dogs do not stay overnight in foster homes, is less well understood.
While brief interactions in controlled settings found decreased cortisol level and improved behavior, the effects of outings involving physical activity within the community may be more variable. This study, titled ‘Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters’, aims to determine whether short-term excursions outside the shelter environment influence the stress levels of shelter dogs. Additionally, the study will evaluate the physical activity levels of dogs during these outings compared to their activity levels within the shelter.
Study Methods
Researchers conducted their study across four open-admission animal shelters located throughout the United States, each with varying locations and dog intake capacities. These shelters already had established short-term outing programs, ranging in frequency from weekly to larger monthly events. These outings typically lasted about 2.5 hours and involved excursions outside the shelter with volunteers or staff, primarily occurring between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
To assess the impact of these outings:
- A specialized device was used to track each dog’s activity levels, recording movement data 50 times per minute. These activity levels were then categorized into five distinct levels (quintiles).
- Urine samples were collected from participating dogs both before and after their outings to measure cortisol:creatinine (C/C) levels, a key indicator of stress.
Each dog participated in the study for three days, with data collection occurring at consistent times in the morning and afternoon to account for potential variations.
Study Results
This study analyzed data from 164 short-term outings across four US animal shelters. The majority of participating dogs were male (56.1%) and arrived at the shelters as strays (76.2%). They had an average age of slightly over three years and an average weight of approximately 24 kg. The length of stay in the shelter varied significantly, ranging from 1.5 to 252.5 days.
Outings were primarily led by female volunteers or staff (86.59%), with over half involving only one person and the dog. Common outing activities included outdoor walks or playtime (75.6%) and visits to pet-friendly stores or restaurants (29.9%). While 43.9% of outings included visits to a person’s home, only 22.00% of dogs exclusively spent time in a home during the outing.
Activity Analysis
This study analyzed the activity levels of 121 dogs, including a total of 710 observations of activity categorized into five distinct levels. Two key patterns emerged from the analysis:
- Afternoon Activity Variation: Higher activity levels during the afternoon of the field trip compared to other times.
- Morning-Afternoon Differences: Significant variations in activity levels between morning and afternoon periods.
Stress Level: Cortisol Analysis
Researchers measured cortisol levels in 793 samples collected from dogs at five different time points. The analysis revealed that dogs generally exhibited higher cortisol levels on the afternoon of the field trip compared to the day before and the day after. This elevation suggests a stress response associated with the outing. However, these effects were transient, with activity levels and cortisol returning to baseline by the following day.
While data showed increased activity levels during the outings, activity alone cannot fully account for the observed rise in cortisol. These findings suggest that psychological stress, likely triggered by novel stimuli and unfamiliar environments, may be a significant factor. Outings exposed the dogs to a variety of new sights, sounds, and smells, which can be overwhelming and contribute to increased stress levels.
It’s crucial to remember that elevated cortisol levels do not always indicate negative welfare outcomes. For instance, owned dogs often experience increased cortisol during stimulating activities like agility competitions or visits to dog parks. These activities are generally associated with positive welfare experiences. However, the context is crucial. Owned dogs return to a stable and familiar home environment after such activities, while shelter dogs return to a potentially more stressful environment. This difference in post-activity environments may significantly impact the overall stress response of shelter dogs.
Implications and Future Directions
These findings underscore the need for enrichment strategies that prioritize stress reduction and improve the welfare of shelter dogs. Enrichment interventions specifically designed to lower cortisol levels, even temporarily, could have significant benefits. Future research should investigate whether quieter, home-based outings or calm, one-on-one interactions with volunteers might be more effective in reducing stress for shelter dogs, potentially enhancing their overall welfare and increasing their chances of adoption.
While short-term outings may not immediately reduce stress, they offer potential long-term benefits. Outings can increase public visibility of adoptable dogs, fostering connections between shelter dogs and potential adopters or foster caregivers. Preliminary data from ongoing studies indicate that over 5% of dogs taken on field trips are adopted by their accompanying individuals, highlighting a potential pathway for reducing shelter stay durations and improving adoption rates.
Future research should delve deeper into the long-term effects of short-term outings on shelter dogs. This includes examining their impact on adoption rates, foster recruitment, and overall length of stay in shelters. By identifying interventions that improve both immediate welfare and long-term outcomes, shelters can provide more effective and evidence-based care for homeless dogs.
Individual Shelter Differences
Interestingly, certain shelters, like DACC, exhibited a decrease in cortisol levels throughout the day. This reduction may be linked to their earlier closing hours. DACC closes earlier than other shelters, resulting in quieter environments in the late afternoon. This quieter environment may contribute to reduced stress levels in the dogs. Previous research supports this notion, suggesting that limiting public access during certain hours can decrease noise levels, encourage more sedentary behavior in dogs, and reduce repetitive behaviors (stereotypies). These findings highlight the significant impact that shelter management practices, such as operating hours and visitor policies, can have on the stress levels of the dogs residing within them.
Conclusion
This study investigated the impact of short-term outings on shelter dogs, focusing on their stress levels, activity patterns, and cortisol concentrations. Despite providing increased human interaction, the study found that these outings appeared to increase stress in the dogs, as indicated by elevated cortisol levels during the outings. However, it’s important to note that cortisol levels returned to normal levels by the following day.
While these findings suggest that short-term outings, as conducted in this study, may not directly replicate the stress-reducing benefits of temporary fostering in a home environment, they may still offer significant value. Specifically, such outings can potentially enhance dogs’ long-term welfare by increasing their visibility within the community and improving their chances of adoption.
Further research is crucial to thoroughly evaluate these potential long-term benefits. Additionally, further investigation is needed to optimize enrichment strategies for shelter dogs, aiming to minimize stress and maximize overall well-being.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2021
External Link:
Gunter LM, Gilchrist RJ, Blade EM, Barber RT, Feuerbacher EN, Platzer JM, Wynne CDL. Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters. Animals. 2021; 11(2):548. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020548