• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

ASPCA estimates 1 million dogs and cats are re-homed annually in the U.S.

January 21, 2016

Lower-income households reported access to free or low-cost pet services could prevent relinquishment.

Getty ImagesThe American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates more than 1 million households in the United States re-home their cats or dogs annually according to its recently released report, “Goodbye to a Good Friend: An Exploration of the Re-Homing of Cats and Dogs in the U.S.”

The ASPCA conducted a telephone survey of nearly 10,000 current or past cat or dog owners and found that 590 had re-homed a cat or dog within the preceding five years. Most pet owners gave the pet to a friend or family member (37 percent), or took the pet to a shelter or rescue organization (36 percent). Those re-homing options were followed by giving the pet to a veterinarian or other pet care professional (14 percent), giving the pet to someone they didn't previously know (11 percent), or setting the pet free to be found by someone else (1 percent).

The study found the most common reasons for re-homing were a problem with the pet (46 percent); a family problem (27 percent); or a housing problem (18 percent). “Those who re-homed to a friend, family or neighbor were more likely to be re-homing due to family issues and housing issues-in other words, a reason that did not have to do with the pet's behavior or health,” says Emily Weiss, PhD, lead author of the study and ASPCA vice president of research and development, in an ASPCA blog post. “Those relinquishing to a shelter, however, were more likely to be re-homing due to issues related to the pet himself (medical and behavior issues, with aggression being the primary driver of significance), as opposed to an external driver.”

Advertisement

Surveyed pet owners with a household income under $50,000 said access to free or low-cost services to better care for their pet would have changed their decision to re-home. Free or low-cost services that respondents said would have made a difference included veterinary care, training or behavior help, guidance on finding pet-friendly housing, spay-neuter services, pet food, temporary pet care or boarding, or assistance in paying pet deposits for housing.

“This study gives us a small window into the complexity of the re-homing issue,” Weiss says. “There are many cases where re-homing is the right thing for the pet and his person, and many for which providing a supportive hand could shift a re-home to a ‘stay home.'”

Related Content:

BehaviorBreaking NewsClient Relations & Marketing
To refer or not to refer
To refer or not to refer
Hiring employees in line with your brand
Hiring employees in line with your brand
How to discuss finances with clients
How to discuss finances with clients

Advertisement

Latest News

Morris Animal Foundation appoints new chief program officer

CDC issues warning over cat-transmitted sporotrichosis

An AI solution is speeding up insurance claims processing

3 categories of inappetence in dogs

View More Latest News
Advertisement