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Cited by 65Human-Animal Interaction StudiesAnimal Law and WelfareAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Risk Factors for Dog Relinquishment to a Los Angeles Municipal Animal Shelter

Open access
Dolan, Emily, Scotto, Jamie, Slater, Margaret, Weiss, Emily·2015·Animals
DOI 10.3390/ani5040413PMC PMC4693217
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Abstract

Dog relinquishment is a large component of shelter intake in the United States. Research has shown traits of the dog are associated with relinquishment as well as general characteristics of those relinquishing. Low income is often cited as a risk factor for relinquishment. The majority of people with lower incomes, however, do not relinquish. A group of people accessing a shelter in a low socioeconomic region of Los Angeles to relinquish their dogs was surveyed. This study examined risk factors for relinquishment, controlling for household income, compared to a group utilizing low cost spay/neuter services. A total of 76.9% of those relinquishing noted cost as a reason for relinquishment. Of participants in the relinquishment group, 80.7% reported not being aware of any services available to them. Most notable in the findings was that the odds of relinquishment were generally higher as the amount of perceived stress in the home in the past three months increased. The majority of people in both groups reported being emotionally attached to the dog. In this sample from a South Los Angeles community, the majority of reasons for relinquishment were likely solvable with assistance. These findings highlight an opportunity to assess community needs and provide community specific alternatives to relinquishment.

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Crossref · 10.3390/ani5040413

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  • Dolan et al. (16) found that 38.5% of relinquishers were male, compared to 20.8% of participants in the comparison group.

    “Dolan et al. (16) found that 38.5% of relinquishers were male, compared to 20.8% of participants in the comparison group.”

    From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as Dolan et al. (16)

    Table 1 in Results §3.1 reports that 34.3% of relinquishers and 17.6% of the comparison group were male, not 38.5% and 20.8%. The section and table are identified in our copy, but no page number is provided. (LLM, conf=0.92)

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  • Males remain under-represented in relinquishment studies, making it difficult to arrive at a definitive conclusion.

    “While there is evidence that the male sex relinquish pets more than the female sex (16, 29), males remain under-represented in relinquishment studies, making it difficult to arrive at a definitive conclusion.”

    From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as [16]

    Table 1 in Results §3.1 shows fewer male than female participants in this study: 57 versus 108 relinquishers and 22 versus 99 comparison owners. The paper does not establish that males are under-represented across relinquishment studies or say that this prevents a definitive conclusion. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Dolan et al. found that 88% of people approached outside animal shelters and informed about support services were willing to consider alternatives to relinquishment and left the shelter with their companion animals.

    “Dolan et al. (16) found that when approached outside animal shelters and informed about support services, 88% of people were willing to consider alternatives to relinquishment and left the shelter with their companion animals.”

    From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as [16]

    The Results (§3.2) report that 146 relinquishment-group participants (88.0%) chose to pursue information about services rather than proceed to surrender their dogs. The paper explicitly says that three undecided participants left with their dogs; it does not establish that all 146 who chose services did so. The 88% also refers to surveyed relinquishers, not everyone approached outside the shelter. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • There is evidence that the male sex relinquish pets more than the female sex.

    “While there is evidence that the male sex relinquish pets more than the female sex (16, 29), males remain under-represented in relinquishment studies, making it difficult to arrive at a definitive conclusion.”

    From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as [16]

    Table 1 (Results, §3.1) shows that men made up a larger share of dog relinquishers than comparison owners (34.3% versus 17.6%), providing evidence of a sex-related difference in this sample. But women outnumbered men among the relinquishers (65.1% versus 34.3%), and the Introduction says the literature disagrees about which sex has higher risk. The source therefore does not support the unqualified claim that men relinquish pets more than women. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A majority of pet owners are willing to consider options other than relinquishment.

    “This supports evidence from Dolan et al. (16) that a majority of pet owners are willing to consider options other than relinquishment.”

    From Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Peri-pandemic pets at greatest risk of relinquishment (2022) · cites this paper as Dolan et al. (16)

    The Results (§3.2; page unavailable) report that 146 of 166 surveyed dog relinquishers (88.0%) chose information about services that could help them keep their dog rather than proceeding to surrender. That supports the majority finding for this group, but the claim’s broader wording, “pet owners,” extends beyond the surveyed dog relinquishers at a Los Angeles shelter. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Dolan, E., Scotto, J., Slater, M., & Weiss, E.
Affiliations
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (US)
Corresponding author
Dolan, Emily
ORCID
Venue
Animals
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2015-12-10
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
1311-1328
ISSN
2076-2615 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ani5040413
PMC
PMC4693217
OpenAlex
W2195726472
Cited by
64
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6
FWCI
3.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Animals (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
  • Social Sciences › Law › Animal Law and Welfare
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
dog relinquishment, animal shelters, risk factors, household income, emotional attachment to pets, Los Angeles, community needs assessment

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