Differences Between Owners and Nonowners of Companion Animals

Endenburg, N.; Hart, Harm't; Vries, H. W. de

doi:10.2752/089279391787057242

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…For example, a Brazilian survey found that higher income households were more likely to own dogs compared to lower income households, but there was no difference in likelihood of cat ownership or number of animals owned ( 37 ). A study in the Netherlands found that animal owners tended to have higher incomes than non-owners ( 38 ). Our study found that Situational Vulnerability in British Columbia was related to various risks, such as surrendering litters (kittens or puppies).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Gordon

Protopopova

2021

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Previous studies identify owner-related issues, such as cost and housing, as common reasons for relinquishment of companion animals to animal shelters. It is likely that the burden of surrendering for owner-related reasons falls on those who are socially vulnerable (e.g., low income, unemployed); however, very few studies have assessed social determinants as a predictor of animal relinquishment. The present study used the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD), which uses four factors of social vulnerability (Ethnocultural Composition, Economic Dependency, Residential Instability, and Situational Vulnerability) to predict risk of surrender for various reasons, of various species and breeds, and of various health statuses across British Columbia, Canada (n = 29,236). We found that CIMD factors predicted increased risk of surrender across many shelter variables. For further understanding of differences between areas in the province, the present study also analyzed the relationship between CIMD factors and animal surrender variables in two areas of interest: Metro Vancouver (n = 3,445) and Kamloops (n = 2,665), and plotted these relationships on a geospatial scale. We found that there were some similarities across areas, such as Situational Vulnerability predicting increased odds of surrendering pit bull-labeled dogs vs. all other dog breeds. There were also differences in predictors of animal surrender variables, suggesting that provision of animal services, such as veterinary care, for vulnerable groups may be specific to location. For example, whereas Ethnocultural Composition predicted increased risk of owner surrender for multiple owner-related reasons in Metro Vancouver, these same reasons for surrender were predicted by Residential Instability in Kamloops, indicating demographic differences that affect animal shelter service use. The results of this research validate the use of geospatial analysis to understand relationships between human vulnerability and animal welfare, but also highlight the need for further interventions in marginalized populations to increase retention of animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Gordon

Protopopova

2021

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…Animals were depicted in cave drawings of prehistoric humans and appeared in early legends of humans (Robinson, 1995). Today, pets are widely distributed across the globe (Endenburg, Hart, & de Vries, 1991) and survey research conducted in the United States indicates that a majority of households include at least one pet (AVMA, 1997). However, there is little information as to the reasons humans have for owning pets.…”

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confidence: 99%

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹

Staats

Sears

Pierfelice³

2006

J Applied Social Pyschol

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The present study queried a random, university faculty sample as to their reasons for owning pets. Mere pet ownership was not correlated with self-reported health, happiness, or quality of work life in this sample. Five dominant reasons were given for pet ownership. Women were more likely than men to self-report reasons related to social support for pet ownership, including that a pet helped them get through hard times and that they would be lonely without a pet. Men were more likely to report pragmatic reasons, such as the pet facilitating exercise or serving a useful function. Beliefs in the positive effects of pets on health were typical. Those beliefs in the health promoting aspects of pets are suggested as a link to human health and a promising area for future research.

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“…Examinations on the relationships between companion animal ownership and human well-being have been mainly conducted in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States [14,15,21,24,40,41,42,43], where companion animal ownership is more common, finding that attitudes towards animals are generally positive and there is a more fluid spatial boundary between human and non-human animals [44,45]. Hong Kong provides a unique context in the study of HAI, especially as it is anticipated that globally more people will live in cities, especially mega-cities, in the coming decades.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this general consensus with respect to the benefits of owning or having access to a companion animal, it needs to be taken into account that the relationship between companion animal ownership and the enhanced well-being of individuals is a complex phenomenon and can be influenced by a significant number of factors, all of which can cause variance in the nature and extent of these benefits. In the literature published to date on this issue, the gender, age, marital and socio-economic statuses, type of dwelling, and availability of social support of the owners have been identified as common confounders [21], challenging prevailing beliefs about the value and nature of ownership of companion animals. For instance, in a cross-sectional web-based survey on the association between companion animals and depression, it was found that principally, marital status and gender were the factors which affected the depression score of the participants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Animal Ownership and Human Well-Being in a Metropolis—The Case of Hong Kong

Wong

Ngai

2019

IJERPH

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Global urbanization has given cause for a re-assessment of the nature and importance of the relationship between humans and domesticated animals. In densely-populated urban societies, where loneliness and alienation can be prevalent, the use of animals as human companions has taken on heightened importance. Hong Kong is the world’s most urbanised political entity, and thus provides an ideal context for the exploration of the role of animals in the provision of companionship for human beings in cities. A web-based survey with descriptive analyses, regression, and ANOVA was conducted. Six-hundred-and-forty-seven companion animal owners and 312 non-owners completed the survey that examined their socio-demographic information, companion animal ownership status, and physical-psychosocial well-being. The statistically significant findings appear to suggest that socio-demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, housing, and education level) have stronger predictive values than companion animal ownership status with respect to the well-being of people in Hong Kong. Due the unique environmental features in Hong Kong, the positive impacts of companion animal ownership on the physical well-being of owners may be limited by the city’s cramped living space and the limited number of people who own companion animals. However, results suggested that companion animals may still serve as a social lubricant between the owners and their significant others, thereby playing a heightened role significant role in enhancing general social connectedness in a metropolis. Given the importance of animals as human companions, it is suggested that relevant administrative agencies need to consider the development of policies and facilities which are conducive to both the maintenance and development of the bonds between humans and their companion animals and the physical and psychosocial health of both.

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Differences Between Owners and Nonowners of Companion Animals

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹

Companion Animal Ownership and Human Well-Being in a Metropolis—The Case of Hong Kong

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Differences Between Owners and Nonowners of Companion Animals

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond1

Companion Animal Ownership and Human Well-Being in a Metropolis—The Case of Hong Kong

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Product

Resources

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Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹