Survey Helps Researchers Understand Why People Surrender Their Pets

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

New research survey is designed to study the reasons people voluntarily relinquish their pets

The numbers are staggering – 7.6 million animals enter shelters in the United States per year according to the ASPCA… but why and how do they end up there? The University of Lincoln is trying to find out the reasons behind owner surrenders with a comprehensive and anonymous survey. Knowledge is power, and if we can figure out why, perhaps we can help to lower that number.

There are plenty of reasons behind a person can be forced to give up their pet – finances, health, big life change, behavior problems, etc. It’s the reason I’m in the business I am: to work from the owner’s end to prevent dogs from ending up in hopeless situations.

But the bottom line is sometimes a dog just isn’t the right fit. In these extreme situations where the owner has taken the appropriate steps to ensure the dog’s well-being and it still isn’t feasible, sometimes there is no other option. Unfortunately, the stigma is terrible for people in this situation.

The idea of this online survey is to allow people to answer honestly without prejudice about why they were unable to keep their pet. At first, previous surveys were done at the shelters upon intake. But this type of questioning, when people were agitated and the emotions were high, led to results that can’t be taken as fact.

The online survey takes between fifteen to twenty minutes and can provide valuable insight into the reasons behind surrender. If a pattern can be established, then hopefully we can work toward a world where the shelters aren’t overflowing with unwanted pets.

For more information or to take the survey, please visit the Dog Relinquishment Survey.

[Source: Scientific American]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

Netflix Employee Cats Can’t Even With Stranger Things’ ‘That Mom

Netflix has released a Stranger Things reaction video of employees'' cats watching Dustin''s family cat get eaten by a demogorgon.

Kickstarter’s Moxie is First Ever Smartphone for Pets

The gadget is to be worn on a harness and enables your pooch to call your phone just by barking. The market for wearable pet tech is booming- many pet parent…

What to Buy Before Adopting a Cat

You''ve decided to go to your local shelter and adopt a kitty - congratulations! Before bringing your new addition home, here''s what you need to buy.

Samoyed

The Samoyed has all the qualities you''d expect in this type of dog. It is alert, strong, happy, trusting, loyal, hardworking, gentle, and playful.

Peggy’s Easy Beef Dog Food Recipe

I love when our readers reach out and offer us their own recipes to share with the community. Peggy sent me this one that she makes for her yellow Lab, Samps…

New “Pig Perfume” Spray Stops Barking Bad Dog Behavior

No, it doesn’t smell like bacon, but “Stop That” spray may stop your dog from acting like a ham Sick and tired of your dog’s endless…

Qoobo Makes a Cheeky New Pussy Pillow [Video]

Want all the furry tail-wagging, without all the fur flying? The Qoobo pillow is guaranteed to make you feel like you''ve a live cat there in your lap!

Upside Down Dog Of The Week – Alfie

From all the way across the pond comes Alfie, our Upside Down Dog of the Week from Upsidedowndogs.com. Alfie is a 1-year-old male English Springer Spaniel fr…

Slovenský Kopov

Also known as the Slovakian hound, the Slovenský Kopov is a medium-sized hunting dog breed known for his scenting ability.

This $1.5 Million Dog Jacket is Made From Real Gold and Diamonds

The reason why Doggy Armour decided to produce such an extravagant dog jacket is to be able to donate more protective coats for anti-poaching pooches.

Product Review: Ruffwear Summit Trex Dog Boots

Oscar puts the boots to Ruffwear’s Summit Trex Dog Boots Imagine going outside in this extreme cold weather with no boots on. I picture that kind of un…

Dog Insurance Pros and Cons

You''ve been antagonizing over the decision of whether or not to buy dog insurance. Let''s go over a few pros and cons of dog insurance.

Dog Bike Basket – Snazzy Jazzy Pet Rattan Pet Bike Basket

I love the the Rattan Pet Bike Basket from Snazzy Jazzy Pet. This dog bike basket has a wire lid that attaches with leather straps to hold my pup securely.

Product Review: The Monster Factory’s VW Campervan Pet Carrier

We flashback to the ‘60s with The Monster Factory''s VW Campervan Pet Carrier. If the van is a ‘rockin... it''s because my two dogs fit inside of it.

New Self-Cleaning Indoor Potty For Pups is Brilliant!

Have you had enough of those early wakeups when your pup needs to go potty? The BrilliantPad is a self-cleaning indoor dog potty that lets you sleep in!