Keeping Pets In Homes: A Three-Phase Retention Study
This study is the second in a three-part series that explores issues of companion animal adoption and retention. The goal of this phase was to determine what happens to dogs and cats after they are adopted from an animal shelter. The study looked at the proportion of companion animals who remained in their homes six months after adoption as well as factors associated with non-retention.
[Abstract excerpted from original source.]
“Objectives of Phase II:
- Survey pet owners six months following acquisition of a dog or cat from one private shelter and one animal control agency in each of three selected U.S. cities
- Determine what percent of adopted pets remained in the home
- Identify outcomes for pets no longer in the home
- Identify reason(s) why pets were relinquished
- Explore differences in retention of dogs/cats based on owner demographics
- Explore differences in retention of dogs/cats based on owner expectations and attitudes
- Explore differences in retention of dogs/cats based on pet demographics and dispositions
- Explore differences in retention of dogs/cats based on post-adoption events
- Provide baseline information to measure the success of interventions tested in Phase III of the study”