Three Things to Know
Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) transitioned to an appointment-based system for in-person visits after the pandemic. However, in 2023, they implemented a pilot program that allowed for open public access to kennels for two afternoons per week.
Researchers found that adoptions increased significantly during these two afternoons, with 80% of the year-over-year increase occurring during this time. Large dogs housed in viewable kennels especially benefited, experiencing a 3.8% chance of adoption per viewing session, compared to the 1.1% chance for large dogs on average.
The study emphasizes the importance of public access to kennels and warns against the potential negative impact of closed systems, even if motivated by staff constraints.
The Full Picture
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant changes in animal shelter operations, including restricted visitor access to kennels. While many shelters have returned to pre-pandemic practices, some have retained appointment-based systems, raising questions about the potential impact on adoption rates.
Orange County Animal Care (OCAC), a large California shelter, offers a compelling case study. From March 2020 to July 2023, OCAC suspended walk-through access, transitioning to an appointment-based system where adopters pre-selected dogs online and visited them during supervised, in-person appointments. Post-pandemic, the shelter continued this model with minor adjustments.
In response to a Grand Jury report, OCAC initiated a pilot program to evaluate the impact of limited public kennel access. For five hours weekly, a portion of the kennels was opened to the public.
This study, titled “Comparison of the Number of Dog Adoptions in a Pilot Program That Restored Limited Visitor Access to Kennels: A Community Case Report,” leverages data from this pilot program to analyze adoption trends. The study hypothesizes that increased public access to kennels will lead to higher overall adoption rates and that dogs in viewable areas will be adopted at a faster rate than those in less visible areas.
Study Methods
OCAC’s pilot program ran from July 19 to November 7, 2023. During this period, the public had access to a section of large-dog kennels on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Visitors could view around 37 large, adoptable dogs.
The study compared data from the pilot period to broader 2022-2023 shelter records, focusing on:
- Adoption Numbers: The number of adoptions during pilot viewing hours versus the same hours on non-pilot days.
- Adoption Trends: Overall adoption trends during the pilot period compared to the same period in 2022.
- Adoption Rates of Viewable Dogs: The adoption rate of dogs in viewable kennels relative to the total large-dog inventory.
Study Results
Over 112 days (July 19 to November 7, 2023), the shelter recorded 756 adoptions eligible for analysis.
Pilot Program Impact on Adoptions
On pilot days (Wednesdays and Saturdays), 59% of adoptions happened during the afternoon viewing hours (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM), compared to 50% on non-pilot days. Looking more closely at specific time slots (11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM), researchers found a significant 13% increase in adoptions during the afternoon viewing hours on pilot days.
This was a significant change from the previous year (July 19 to November 7, 2022). In 2022, there was no significant difference in adoption patterns between afternoon hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the rest of the week.
The study also revealed a significant increase in dog adoptions during the pilot program’s afternoon kennel viewing hours. 100 more dogs were adopted in 2023, a 15% increase over the previous year. Notably, 80 of these additional adoptions occurred during the limited kennel viewing sessions, which accounted for only 14% of the shelter’s operating hours.
This substantial increase suggests that the viewing sessions not only met adopter preferences but also attracted more visitors, leading to higher adoption rates. Given there were no other significant operational changes, it appears that the program itself was the primary driver of this increase.
Pilot Program Impact on Viewable Large Dogs
The pilot program also significantly impacted the adoption of large dogs, which made up a substantial portion of the adoptable inventory. On average, 160 large dogs were available during the pilot period, with 37 (23%) housed in viewable kennels. During afternoon viewing hours, a remarkable 83% of the 54 large dog adoptions involved dogs from these viewable kennels, far exceeding the expected 23% rate of random selection.
Visitors clearly favored viewable dogs. A large dog in a viewable kennel had a 3.8% chance of adoption per viewing session, significantly higher than the 1.1% chance for large dogs across the entire inventory. This suggests that the emotional connection fostered by face-to-face encounters played a crucial role in adoption decisions, aligning with existing research on the importance of emotional factors in animal adoptions.
Conclusion
The pilot program at OCAC demonstrated that partial access to kennels significantly increased adoption rates. Visitors, particularly those interested in larger dogs, were drawn to viewable kennels. This suggests that direct interaction with animals, rather than relying solely on online profiles, can positively impact adoption decisions.
These findings highlight that caution is necessary when considering operational changes that limit kennel viewing. Future research should explore the optimal balance between kennel access and appointment-based systems, aiming to maximize adoption rates while minimizing resource constraints.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Rehoming Success > Enlarging Adoption Pipeline
Year of Publication:
2024
External Link:
Mavrovouniotis, M. L. (2024). Comparison of the Number of Dog Adoptions in a Pilot Program That Restored Limited Visitor Access to Kennels: A Community Case Report. Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.56771/jsmcah.v3.85