Three Things to Know
Researchers examined data from 1996 to 2017 to determine why pets are surrendered in Denmark, as well as to identify any long-term trends.
The study revealed that owner-related issues were responsible for 75% of cat and 74% of dog relinquishments. Among dogs, the most common owner-related reasons were owner health (29%), housing constraints (21%), and time limitations (14%), whereas behavioral problems were the main animal-related factor (23%).
Notably, behavioral problems were the predominant reason for pet returns (48%), underscoring the necessity for enhanced expectation management and post-adoption support programs.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
In contrast to studies in Colorado, USA, where canine behavior was the primary relinquishment factor, and British Columbia, Canada, where overpopulation was prevalent, this Danish research identified owner health as the leading cause. This disparity underscores the context-specific challenges faced by animal shelters across different regions.
However, behavioral problems and housing constraints consistently emerged as significant factors across all studies. This highlights the need for proactive strategies to address potential behavioral issues, robust post-adoption support programs to reduce returns, and advocacy for housing policies that accommodate pet owners. Furthermore, temporary boarding solutions are crucial for owners experiencing short-term housing instability.
The Full Picture
Each year, many privately owned dogs and cats are surrendered to animal shelters in Western countries. Understanding the reasons for relinquishment is crucial for reducing these numbers. While behavioral issues are commonly cited, especially for dogs, a meta-analysis suggests that owner-related reasons are overall more prevalent.
This study, titled “Owner-Related Reasons Matter more than Behavioural Problems — A Study of Why Owners Relinquished Dogs and Cats to a Danish Animal Shelter from 1996 to 2017”, focuses on the reasons Danish owners gave for relinquishing dogs and cats to a large shelter from 1996 to 2017.
Study Methods
The animal shelter, located in Aarhus, Denmark, provided complete records of dog and cat relinquishments from 1996 to 2017. The shelter accepts animals from both urban and rural areas and handles owner surrenders, strays, and animals held by police. Only owned animals (excluding a few police-relinquished cases) were included in the analysis.
The available data included both first-time relinquishments and returns of previously adopted animals. Researchers identified a total of four owner-related categories (owner health, housing issues, lack of time, and lack of interest) and three animal-related categories (behavior problems, physical state, and other).
Study Results
Over the 20+ year study period, 5,959 reasons were recorded, including 4,613 for first-time relinquishments and 1,346 for returns. There were 3,204 dog cases and 2,755 cat cases.
Cat relinquishment numbers stayed fairly stable during this time, while dog relinquishments decreased. This is likely due to the growing use of social media and online platforms for rehoming — an option more popular for dogs due to their higher market value.
Why Dogs Are Surrendered
The most common reasons for giving up dogs were owner-related:
- Owner health (29%)
- Housing issues (21%)
- Lack of time (14%)
The most common animal-related reason was behavior problems (23%), with minor variation over time. Less than 1% of dogs were relinquished due to their physical condition.
Why Cats Are Surrendered
Cats were also consistently more likely to be relinquished due to owner-related than animal-related reasons. The most common owner-related reasons for giving up cats were:
- Owner health (32%)
- Housing issues (26%)
Behavioral problems were the most cited animal-related reason (25%). Lack of time was more often cited for dogs (14%), but not for cats (4%), likely due to dogs’ greater time and care needs.
Comparison of Owner vs. Animal Factors
Overall, 75% of cat and 74% of dog relinquishments were due to owner-related reasons. Health-related relinquishments may include cases where elderly owners move to care homes or pass away, although this needs further study. On the other hand, housing challenges likely reflect Denmark’s mix of rental properties with varying pet policies.
About 25% of relinquishments were due to animal-related factors. However, many behaviour issues may stem from poor management or unmet needs (e.g. insufficient stimulation or inappropriate housing). For example, cats kept indoors or housed with other cats may develop behavioural issues.
However, for animals returned after adoption, behavior problems were the dominant reason (48%). This highlights the importance of better owner-animal matching and pre-adoption education.
Conclusion
The study found that most pets were relinquished for owner-related reasons, especially health issues and housing problems.This trend remained stable over the 20-year period, although animal behavior was still cited in about a quarter of the cases.
To reduce pet relinquishment, strategies should focus on supporting pet ownership during personal hardship (e.g., housing and health issues), as well as enhancing owner education and expectation management, especially around behavioural needs.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Reducing Shelter Intake > Reasons for Intake
Year of Publication:
2020
External Link:
Jensen JBH, Sandøe P, Nielsen SS. Owner-Related Reasons Matter more than Behavioural Problems—A Study of Why Owners Relinquished Dogs and Cats to a Danish Animal Shelter from 1996 to 2017. Animals. 2020; 10(6):1064. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061064