Sadly, many thousands of owned companion animals are relinquished to shelters nationwide each year. Not only do these animals lose their homes, their place of comfort and familiarity, but many will never know another home again. Estimates suggest nearly 7 million dogs and cats are currently euthanized in the U.S. each year.
NHES urges you to choose your pet wisely and plan responsibly for life changes that so that your furry friend will have a home for life!
Top Ten Reasons for Pet Relinquishment
Dogs
- Moving (7%)
- Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
- Too many animals in household (4%)
- Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
- Owner having personal problems (4%)
- Inadequate facilities (4%)
- No homes available for litter mates (3%)
- Having no time for pet (4%)
- Pet illness(es) (4%)
- Biting (3%)
Cats
- Moving (8%)
- Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
- Too many animals in household (11%)
- Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
- Owner having personal problems (4%)
- Inadequate facilities (2%)
- No homes available for litter mates (6%)
- Allergies in family (8%)
- House soiling (5%)
- Incompatibility with other pets (2%)
Specially trained researchers completed confidential individual interviews with pet owners who were relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. Pet owners were allowed to give up to five reasons for relinquishment. Interviewers did not, however, prioritize the responses. They simply recorded them in the order stated.
Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
- The majority of dogs (37.1 %) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year
- Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs; 50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered
- Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a veterinarian
- Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source
- Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were surrendered
- Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training
