Development and evaluation of an ecological model for describing the pet dog population in the United States and an epidemiologic study of risk factors for an owner\u27s failure to retain their dog as a pet in the home

Abstract

The euthanasia of unwanted pets in animal shelters is believed to be the single leading cause of death for dogs. However, fundamental aspects of the ecology of the pet dog population remain difficult to quantify and risk factors for relinquishment of dogs to animal shelters have not been scientifically evaluated. An ecological model for estimating the annual turnover in owned dogs, household breeding, and mortality was evaluated in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The annual turnover in owned dogs was 14.1%, and between 60 and 72% of newly acquired dogs originated from household breeding. Puppies from household breeding were whelped in 2.4-2.9% of all dog owning households, and were whelped by 5.7% of the females 0.5-7 years of age and 2.3% of the females $\u3e$7 years. A case-control study was conducted to identify characteristics of dogs and their owners that were associated with relinquishment to a shelter. The potentially modifiable risk factors with the highest population attributable risk for relinquishment were not participating in dog obedience classes post-acquisition (68.1%), lack of veterinary care (65.7%), being intact (30.9%), care of the dog requiring more work than expected (32.3%), and daily or weekly inappropriate elimination (19.3%). Dogs 0.5-3 years of age receiving no veterinary care were at a three hundred fold increased risk of relinquishment compared to dogs 17 years of age that visited a veterinarian 12 times per year; dogs with frequent behavior problems that did not receive veterinary care were at a 20-35 fold increased risk of relinquishment compared with dogs that had a low frequency of behavior problems and that visited a veterinarian $\ge$2 times per year. Current trends in the delivery of preventive health care to puppies, including earlier completion of primary vaccinations and prepubertal sterilization, might increase the relinquishment of dogs to shelters as a result of fewer opportunities for veterinarians to counsel dog owners. Implementation of routine behavior prophylaxis during the period of greatly increased risk for relinquishment (i.e. 0.5-3 years of age) is recommended