Reasons for Relinquishment of Companion Animals in U.S. Animal Shelters: Selected Health and Personal Issues
Abstract
In personal interviews, people surrendering their dogs and cats to 12 animal shelters in 4 regions of the country discussed their reasons for relinquishing their companion animals and answered questions about their own characteristics and those of their pet. The interviews identified 71 reasons for relinquishment. Personal issues lead the class of reasons for relinquishment of cats and ranked 3rd among those given for relinquishment of dogs. The top 3 health and personal issues cited for giving up cats were allergies of a family member to cats, owner's personal problems, and anew baby. For dogs, the top 3 reasons cited were lack of time for the dog, owner's personal problems, and allergies. Analysis of these health and personal issues suggests that education and counseling before and after acquisition of a pet, as well as the availability of temporary accommodations for pets during times of personal crisis, may reduce relinquishments.
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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Scarlett et al. (41) found that only 0.3% of dog owners and 0.4% of cat owners cited "unwanted gift" as a reason for relinquishment across 12 USA animal shelters.
“For example, Scarlett et al. (41) found that only 0.3% of dog owners and 0.4% of cat owners cited “unwanted gift” as a reason for relinquishment across 12 USA animal shelters.”
From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as Scarlett et al. (41)
Scarlett et al. (41) and New et al. (29) appear to have used the same dataset of 12 USA shelters in their studies.
“However, Scarlett et al. (41) and New et al. (29) appear to have used the same dataset of 12 USA shelters in their studies.”
From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as Scarlett et al. (41)
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References 8 · Cited by 204
- Authors
- Scarlett, J. M., Salman, M. D., New, Jr., & Kass, P. H.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1999-01
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-57
- ISSN
- 1088-8705 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7604
- OpenAlex
- W2088033193
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Social Sciences › Law › Animal Law and Welfare
- Keywords
- pet relinquishment, animal shelters, companion animals, dogs, cats
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