When making high-value economic or personal decisions, people often go through a multi-step process before making their choice, including recognizing an unmet need or desire, seeking information from others, and making lists of sought-after characteristics. Researchers wanted to know whether a similar approach is followed by people looking to bring a new dog into their life, and if this process differs across socioeconomic groups. Understanding how people make the decision to become a guardian of a new dog can help inform animal shelters about strategies for recruiting adopters, and make shelter adoption more accessible.

Participants for this study were recruited through email advertisements and physical flyers posted at animal shelters and veterinary outreach events, and in public places like libraries, coffee shops, and community centers in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. People who had brought a new dog into their life within the past two years were invited to an interview.

The researchers conducted virtual or phone interviews with 40 recruited participants. Interviews were conversational, but guided by a list of pre-determined topics consistent across participants. Interviewees were asked to describe their socioeconomic status (SES) in their own words. Roughly two-thirds of respondents (67.5%) self-identified as living in poverty or close to it (lower-SES), while about one-third (32.5%) self-reported as being middle or upper class (middle- or upper-SES). After the interviews, transcripts of the conversations were screened by hand for patterns across responses.

Decision-Making Takes Time Regardless Of Income Level

Respondents often reported spending months or years thinking over the idea of getting a dog before making the decision to do so. Most interviewees indicated that their motivations for bringing a new dog into their lives became clear as the mulling process went on.

Seeking companionship was a major motivator across all socioeconomic groups. For lower-SES respondents, security concerns or the ability to increase income were also motivations, while for middle- and upper-SES respondents, practical reasons were less of a consideration.

Information Gathering Important At All Income Levels

Middle- and upper-SES respondents often made lists of desired criteria prior to beginning the search for a dog, including things like age, breed, size, or personality. They described feeling largely unsuccessful in their information-gathering stage, however, as there was little information online about specific dogs or breeders they were interested in.

Lower-SES respondents sometimes had one or more features in mind but often began with finding available dogs in their community, and then relied on an emotional connection with an animal to make their choice. The ability to connect firsthand with a dog or speak directly with a community member from whom they were getting the dog made lower-SES respondents feel more successful in their search for information.

Animal Shelters Not A Top Choice For Any Income Level

Importantly, the researchers found that participants across all socioeconomic groups rarely sought out dogs from animal shelters, despite living near them. Middle- and upper-SES respondents most often got their dogs from breeders (sometimes outside of their community), while lower-SES respondents were more likely to find dogs locally from “backyard” breeders or a neighbor, friend, or relative.

Lower-SES respondents cited the high price of adoption, fears of their application being rejected, and uneasiness around the information-sharing required by adoption paperwork as reasons for not going to a local animal shelter. Middle- and upper-SES respondents didn’t believe shelters would have the type of dog they wanted available.

Implications For Animal Welfare Organizations

When considering whether to get a new dog and where to find one, the people interviewed in this study went through a similar process to those making other high-value decisions. Some, but not all, aspects differed across socioeconomic groups.

The researchers’ findings surrounding the dog acquisition decision-making process can help inform animal shelters on ways to improve adoption rates. For example, many respondents desired more detailed and accurate information before making their decision, and shelters can help with this by advertising dogs (with specific animal details) and services to engage future guardians during the often-lengthy mulling process.

Additionally, the researchers discuss how taking steps like instituting free-of-charge or pay-what-you-can adoptions, less-involved paperwork, conversational adoption interviews, and no income restrictions can help make shelter adoption more accessible for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Though this study was done in one local community in the U.S. and represents just a small subset of potential adopters, the researchers’ findings are an important step in better understanding what goes into the decision to become a dog guardian, and can help inform animal welfare organizations’ outreach and adoption strategies.