Dog Population & Dog Sheltering Trends in the United States of America

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe pet overpopulation problem in the United States has changed significantly since the 1970s. The purpose of this review is to document these changes and propose factors that have been and are currently driving the dog population dynamics in the US. In the 1960s, about one quarter of the dog population was still roaming the streets (whether owned or not) and 10 to 20-fold more dogs were euthanized in shelters compared to the present. We present data from across the United States which support the idea that, along with increased responsible pet ownership behaviors, sterilization efforts in shelters and private veterinary hospitals have played a role driving and sustaining the decline in unwanted animals entering shelters (and being euthanized). Additionally, data shows that adoption numbers are rising slowly across the US and have become an additional driver of declining euthanasia numbers in the last decade. We conclude that the cultural shift in how society and pet owners relate to dogs has produced positive shelter trends beyond the decline in intake. The increased level of control and care dog owners provide to their dogs, as well as the increasing perception of dogs as family members, are all indicators of the changing human-dog relationship in the US.AbstractDog management in the United States has evolved considerably over the last 40 years. This review analyzes available data from the last 30 to 40 years to identify national and local trends. In 1973, The Humane Society of the US (The HSUS) estimated that about 13.5 million animals (64 dogs and cats per 1000 people) were euthanized in the US (about 20% of the pet population) and about 25% of the dog population was still roaming the streets. Intake and euthanasia numbers (national and state level) declined rapidly in the 1970s due to a number of factors, including the implementation of shelter sterilization policies, changes in sterilization practices by private veterinarians and the passage of local ordinances implementing differential licensing fees for intact and sterilized pets. By the mid-1980s, shelter intake had declined by about 50% (The HSUS estimated 7.6–10 million animals euthanized in 1985). Data collected by PetPoint over the past eight years indicate that adoptions increased in the last decade and may have become an additional driver affecting recent euthanasia declines across the US. We suspect that sterilizations, now part of the standard veterinary care, and the level of control of pet dogs exercised by pet owners (roaming dogs are now mostly absent in many US communities) played an important part in the cultural shift in the US, in which a larger proportion of families now regard their pet dogs as “family members”.

Leptospiral shedding and seropositivity in shelter dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region of Southeastern Appalachia

“…Pet overpopulation is an emerging issue in the Appalachian region relative to the rest of the United States, and this problem is likely attributed to various cultural and socio-economic factors unique to the region [18,19]. Stray animals have a higher exposure to rodents and contaminated standing water, which may be the only survival strategy available to many stray animals prior to adoption or arrival at an animal shelter.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance in Veterinary Medicine: An Overview

“…In industrialized countries, the companion animal population is dramatically increased during the last decades and its trend expects steadily increasing growth [49]. The role of companion animals is changing accordingly.…”

“…The role of companion animals is changing accordingly. The increased attention level towards the animal health status and hygienic conditions results in the overall improvement of the animal welfare [49]. On the other hand, the increased "contact" between animals and human beings lead to a higher risk of infections and the cross-transmission of AMR traits.…”

Fecal shedding of Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile in dogs fed raw meat-based diets in Brazil and their owners’ motivation

“…In Brazil, the latest census of companion animals has shown a population of approximately 52 the country with the 2 nd largest number of these domesticated animals [1]. The relationship between the pet owner and their dogs has also changed, with an increasing view of dogs as family members [2]. In recent years, a large number of owners have been feeding their dogs and cats raw meatbased diets (RMBD) instead of regular commercial dry feed [3,4].…”