Bad Behavior The Top Reason People Give Up Their Companion Animal

An Ohio State University survey of 56 dog owners and 73 cat owners who surrendered their companion animals to the Capital Area Humane Society in Columbus, Ohio found that bad behavior was the top reason for giving up a dog. Behavior issues were specified by 30% of dog owners surveyed, and moving was the top reason for giving up cats, as specified by 29% of respondents.

This study of 56 dog owners and 73 cat owners who gave up their companion animals to the Capital Area Humane Society found that 30% of the dog owners did so because of bad behavior, more specifically noted as hyperactivity, housebreaking problems, and biting and chewing. More than half (53%) of the dogs were surrendered at less than one year old.

Other reasons for giving up dogs included:

• Dog takes too much time, work and money (21%)
• Moving (19%)
• Owner is ill or allergic to dogs (9%)
• Dog part of a new litter (5%)
• Dog is ill (4%)
• Other (12%)

Cat owners had different reasons for surrendering their companion animals:

• Moving (29%)
• Owner is ill or allergic to cats (15%)
• Cat has behavior problems (14%)
• Cat is part of a new litter (13%)
• Cat takes too much time, work or money (13%)
• Companion animal is ill (5%)
• Other (13%)

Note: Data was collected in fall and winter. If collected in spring or summer, unwanted litters would likely have been a larger factor in relinquishments.