Three Things to Know
Pet relinquishment during the pandemic is a significant concern for dog welfare organizations. A large-scale survey investigated relinquishment rates and contributing factors.
The study revealed that pets acquired within six months prior to the pandemic were three times more likely to be considered for or actually relinquished compared to those acquired over six months prior. Notably, this rate was also higher than for pets acquired during the pandemic (two times more likely than those acquired over six months prior).
The most common reasons cited for considering or proceeding with pet surrender were financial constraints, health concerns, and behavioral issues. Additionally, the study found that pets received as gifts had a higher likelihood of relinquishment.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
The insights from this 2022 study (initial survey: 2020) remain crucial for dog welfare organizations grappling with the ongoing issue of pet relinquishment stemming from the pandemic and beyond. The continuous need for financial and behavioral support highlights owner vulnerability during life transitions. Dog welfare organizations should capitalize on their ability to build strong community support systems to assist owners through these times. Moreover, the study’s finding that most owners manage rehoming independently presents a clear opportunity for shelters to explore and potentially facilitate this process.
The Full Picture
The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant risks to companion animal welfare, increasing the potential for pet relinquishment and abandonment due to factors like financial hardship, lifestyle changes, and misinformation about animals transmitting the virus. This study, titled “Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment”, aims to understand patterns of pet relinquishment during the pandemic. In particular,
- Determine how often people relinquished cats and dogs during the pandemic.
- Identify acquisition-related risk factors for relinquishment.
- Explore how gender influences relinquishment.
- Understand the reasons owners gave for giving up their pets during this time.
Study Methods
This study used a cross-sectional online survey to examine self-reported relinquishment of cats and dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial sample included 4,000 pet owners (2,000 male, 2,000 female) from several countries, including the UK, USA, Australia, and others. To address typical female response bias in animal welfare surveys, the study ensured equal gender representation.
Initial Survey
Participants were current or former cat/dog owners and answered questions about their most recently acquired pet. The first survey (August 2020) included questions about pet species, acquisition method and timing, and whether they had considered or actually relinquished their pet. A total of 3,945 valid responses were collected.
Follow-up Survey
Two follow-up surveys were conducted:
- Survey 2 (August 2020) targeted those who had considered or already relinquished a pet (181 responses).
- Survey 3 (March–April 2021) followed up with those same individuals to assess changes in pet ownership (64 responses).
Study Results
Initial Survey
Data from 3,945 participants across 27 countries were included in the first survey. The majority of respondents were from the UK (58.2%), followed by the USA (20.9%), Italy (7.6%), and Canada (4.3%). A smaller proportion came from countries such as Spain, Ireland, Australia, France, and other locations. The average age of participants was 34.7 years, and most identified as white (89.8%), with smaller percentages identifying as Black (2%), Asian (3.6%), Mixed (3.6%), or Other (1%).
In terms of employment, 56.8% reported working full-time, 8.8% part-time, 1.6% were about to start a new job, and others were either not in paid work (9.7%), unemployed (6.7%), or selected “other” (6.2%). Additionally, 22.4% of respondents identified as students. Regarding the type of pet, 56.9% completed the survey about a dog, while 43.1% did so for a cat. Pets were most commonly obtained either from breeders (33.3%) or through adoption from shelters or rehoming organizations (30.8%).
Acquisition
Most participants (85.8%) had acquired their pet more than six months before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Another 9% acquired their pet within the six months leading up to the pandemic declaration, and 5.2% got their pet afterward. Notably, among those who got their pet after the pandemic was declared, 42.7% had not planned to get a pet beforehand.
Online acquisition was common, and it was more common among dog owners (39.0%) than cat owners (26.6%). Online sourcing rose over time: 31.7% of those who acquired pets more than six months before the pandemic used online sources, compared to 43.9% who got pets within six months before the pandemic, and 49% who got pets after.
Relinquishment
At the time of the first survey in August 2020, 95.2% of participants had never considered giving up their pet. However, 4.2% had considered it, and 0.5% had already done so. Among cat owners, 4.0% had considered giving up their pet and 0.5% had already done so; for dog owners, 4.4% had considered and 0.5% had already relinquished their dog. This suggests that despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, most pet owners remained committed to keeping their animals.
Among participants who had already given up their pets, most (66.7%) had rehomed them directly to a new owner. Others had obtained temporary care from someone else (19.0%) or relinquished the pet to a shelter (14.3%).
Interestingly, while overall relinquishment was low, the number of participants who thought about giving up their pets was slightly higher than what other studies have reported. This may be due to this study considering a broader range of relinquishment pathways—not just returns to shelters. In fact, most owners who did give up their pets rehomed them privately rather than through formal shelter systems. This suggests that shelter data might underestimate the true extent of pet relinquishment.
Analysis By Acquisition Timing
Looking at timing more closely:
| Pet Acquisition Timing | Never Considered Relinquishment (3,774 participants) | Considered Relinquishment (168 participants) | Relinquished (21 participants) |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than 6 months before the pandemic | 87.1% | 62.5% | 52.4% |
| Within 6 months before the pandemic | 8.1% | 26.2% | 28.6% |
| After pandemic declared | 4.8% | 11.3% | 19.0% |
Timing played a major role. Pets acquired within six months before the pandemic were three times more likely to be considered for or actually relinquished compared to those acquired more than six months before. Pets acquired after the pandemic was declared were twice as likely to be at risk of relinquishment. This highlights the need to support new pet owners — particularly those who got pets just before the pandemic — to help reduce relinquishment rates.
Analysis By Acquisition Characteristics
When comparing pet sources to gifts (used as the reference category), pets adopted from shelters were 38.7% less likely to be relinquished, those from breeders were 31.2% less likely, and those acquired directly from someone needing to rehome their pet were 24.4% less likely to be given up.
This result reflects other research suggesting that unplanned or passive acquisitions, especially surprise gifts, may not foster the same level of commitment as planned acquisitions. However, the evidence on this topic is mixed. While some older studies found no increased risk of relinquishment for gifted pets, more recent research has challenged those conclusions, pointing to the need for further study — especially to clarify whether the pet was a surprise gift or one the owner was involved in choosing.
Reasons for Pet Relinquishment During the Pandemic
When asked about reasons for considering or actually giving up their pet, financial hardship was the most frequently cited factor. Some respondents specifically linked these difficulties to the COVID-19 pandemic—for example, being furloughed or losing income due to lockdowns. Others mentioned financial stress more generally, such as the high cost of pet health care.
Health concerns related to COVID-19 were also common. Several respondents expressed fear that their pet might contract the virus or uncertainty about the risks of animal-to-human transmission. Behavioral issues were the third most cited reason, with examples including pets being too difficult to manage or showing problematic behaviors despite training.
Read also: Behaviour-Related Dog Relinquishments: Do Owners Accept Free Behavioural Advice?
Follow-Up Surveys
One week later, a total of 153 participants who had considered or already relinquished their pet completed a follow-up survey. Between the first and second surveys, five individuals moved from the “considering” to the “relinquished” group, having given up their pet within that week.
Seven months later, another follow-up was conducted with those who completed the second survey. Of the 153 invited, 64 responded. During that period, two pets passed away, one was relinquished to a shelter, and two were rehomed directly to new owners — resulting in three additional cases of relinquishment.
Conclusion
Concerns about pet relinquishment during the pandemic have often focused on animals acquired during the pandemic. However, this study found that pets obtained in the six months before the pandemic were actually at the highest risk of being given up. These owners may need more targeted support, as they faced sudden lifestyle changes that may not have suited their new pets.
The study also highlighted gender differences, with male pet owners more likely to consider or go through with relinquishment. Interestingly, pets received as gifts were more at risk of relinquishment—contrary to some previous findings. This inconsistency signals a need for more investigation.
While most people who gave up pets rehomed them directly to new owners, this kind of informal relinquishment is often overlooked. Further research is needed to understand how common this is and what happens to the animals afterward.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Reducing Shelter Intake > Reasons for Intake
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Carroll GA, Torjussen A and Reeve C (2022) Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1017954. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1017954