Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States

Weiss, Emily; Miller, Katherine; Mohan-Gibbons, Heather; Vela, Carla

doi:10.3390/ani2020144

Cited by 178Human-Animal Interaction StudiesAnimal Behavior and Welfare StudiesAnimal Law and Welfare

Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States

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Weiss, Emily, Miller, Katherine, Mohan-Gibbons, Heather, Vela, Carla·2012·Animals

DOI 10.3390/ani2020144PMC PMC4494324

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Abstract

Responses from an adopter survey (n = 1,491) determined reasons for pet selection, type of information received by the adopter, and the context in which the animal’s behavior was observed. Appearance of the animal, social behavior with adopter, and personality were the top reasons for adoption across species and age groups. Most adopters stated that information about the animal from a staff member or volunteer was more important than information on cage cards, and health and behavior information was particularly important. Adopters found greater importance in interacting with the animal rather than viewing it in its kennel. The results of this study can be used by shelters to create better adoption matches, prioritize shelter resources and staff training, and potentially increase adoptions. Additionally, some simple training techniques are suggested to facilitate adopter-friendly behaviors from sheltered dogs and cats.

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Evidence suggests that physical appearance outperforms health considerations when acquiring a dog.
“Evidence suggests that physical appearance outperforms health considerations when acquiring a dog [104,105].”
From Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding (2024) · cites this paper as [105]
The Results report that appearance was the most frequently cited single reason for adopting a dog (27.3%), supporting the emphasis on appearance. But the study concerns adoptions at five shelters, not dog acquisition generally, and it does not directly compare appearance with health as reasons for choosing a dog. The Discussion also says adopters rated information about a pet’s health as important. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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Article Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States
Weiss, E., Miller, K., Mohan-gibbons, H., & Vela, C. (2012)
Self-citation
The Truth about Humans: The Decision to Adopt Dogs & Cats
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Authors: Weiss, E., Miller, K., Mohan-Gibbons, H., & Vela, C.
Affiliations: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (US)
Applied Research and Behavior, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), 424 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128, USA
City University of New York (US)
Corresponding author: Weiss, Emily
ORCID: Weiss, Emily
Venue: Animals
Publisher: MDPI AG
Published: 2012-04-10
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 144-159
ISSN: 2076-2615 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3390/ani2020144
PMC: PMC4494324
OpenAlex: W1989044448
Cited by: 178
References: 13
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 4.63
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (vor)
Locations: Animals (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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 adoption, animal shelters, pet selection, animal appearance, social behavior, shelter dogs

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Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States

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