The Future of Animal Sheltering: 7 Critical Research Areas
A study identified seven critical, unsolved problem areas for future research in animal welfare.
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Research Summaries
Exploring the Science of Dog Welfare: Dive into a brief overview of academic research examining the welfare of dogs in various environments, including streets, shelters, and homes.
Beyond Money and Dogs: Hidden Challenges in Animal Shelters and Tech Solutions
A study identified challenges and inefficiencies in animal shelters and explored how technology, such as integrated management systems and automation, can improve operations and animal care.
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How Dog Traits Shape Shelter Outcomes: A Study in Euthanasia Decisions
A study investigated the influence of dog phenotypes — skull type, size, age group, and regional location — on the likelihood of shelter euthanasia, providing evidence to inform more objective, evidence-based decision-making by shelter staff.
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The Role of Time and Traits in Shelter Dog Adoptions
A study explored how a dog’s physical characteristics and the length of time it spends in a shelter impact its chances of adoption. By understanding these factors, shelters can make more objective outcome decisions.
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Breaking Adoption Myths: How a Open-Admission Shelter Achieved High Live Releases
A study examined factors influencing live release outcomes for dogs in a large, open-admission municipal shelter, highlighting the achieved live release rate and three strategies for increasing it.
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What Determines the Fate of Senior Dogs and Cats in Shelters?
A study examines the factors influencing outcomes for senior cats and dogs in a shelter environment, highlighting the roles of medical and behavioral evaluations, foster care, and community partnerships in improving live outcomes and addressing the unique challenges posed by aging companion animals.
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Unpacking Social Vulnerability: Insights Into Animal Shelter Intakes and Adoptions
A study examines the relationship between animal shelter intakes, adoptions, and community social vulnerability, highlighting disparities in intake origins, particularly for strays and confiscations from high-vulnerability areas.
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A Pawsitive Change: The Decades-Long Transformation of U.S. Animal Shelters
A study examines how U.S. dog shelters have transformed since the 1970s, with dramatic declines in intake and euthanasia rates attributed to sterilization, increased adoptions, and responsible pet ownership.
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The Pound Model’s Legacy: Why U.S. Animal Shelters Need a New Path
A study examines the enduring influence of the historical pound model on U.S. animal sheltering, highlighting systemic inequities, the persistence of euthanasia as a default solution, and the need to reimagine companion animal welfare.
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The First Step: Exploring Intake Practices in Texas Animal Shelters
A study explores intake practices in Texas animal shelters, highlighting the use of low-stress handling techniques to mitigate canine stress while identifying gaps in staff education and emphasizing the need to consider low-cost, stress-reduction strategies.
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