Returning a Shelter Dog: The Role of Owner Expectations and Dog Behavior

Abstract

Millions of animals are adopted from animal shelters in the United States each year, although some are returned post-adoption, which can decrease both the animals’ chances of future adoptions and the owners’ willingness to adopt again. In this study, we investigated the impact of adopter expectations for ownership and animal behavioral problems on post-adoptive dog returns at a large animal shelter in South Carolina. Between June–September 2021, 132 dog adopters completed a survey about their expectations for ownership through Qualtrics. Twenty-nine adopters returned their dogs to the shelter within three months of adoption, with a median length of ownership of eight days. Owners completed follow-up questionnaires about their perceptions of adoption and dog behavior at two days, two weeks, and four months post-adoption. Categorical principal component analysis revealed three factors pertaining to adopters’ expectations for ownership. Independent t-tests showed returning owners had significantly higher expectations for dog behavior and health (t = −2.32, p = 0.02) and the human–dog bond compared with non-returning owners (t = −2.36, p = 0.02). Expectations for ownership responsibilities did not differ between the groups. Two-thirds of adopters experienced dog behavioral problems post-adoption, although training difficulty decreased significantly between two days and four months (F = 5.22, p = 0.01) and nonsocial fear decreased between two weeks and four months post-adoption (X2 = 10.17, p = 0.01). Shelters may benefit from utilizing adoption counselling to ensure adopters understand the potential for dog behavioral problems in the early stages of ownership and develop appropriate expectations for the human–dog relationship. Post-adoption behavioral support may also help some owners to overcome behavioral difficulties as their dogs adapt to the new environment.

Selection Factors Influencing Eventual Owner Satisfaction about Pet Dog Adoption

“…Not all adoptions are successful and managing owner expectations preadoption is difficult to navigate. If owner expectations are high and skewed based on limited knowledge, they may be difficult to achieve and therefore returns are more likely [ 12 ]. Well respected scientists have attempted to understand this phenomenon and investigate underlying motivating factors influencing long term success in pet dog adoptions.…”

The Potential Impact of a Dog Training Program on the Animal Adoptions in an Italian Shelter

“…A further key factor to achieve a conscious choice is based on the expectations of the adopters towards dog ownership, prior to adoption itself and their gained experience with dog behavior. Powell and coworkers documented that owners who returned their dog to the shelter within three months from the adoption had higher expectations of their dog and human–dog relationship, although animals exhibited a non-dysfunctional behavior when compared with adopters who did not return their dogs [ 37 ]. The same authors found that two-thirds of owners experienced dog behavioral concerns following adoption, even though some of them reduced over time (e.g., difficulties with training and fear).…”

Adoption Can Be a Risky Business: Risk Factors Predictive of Dogs Adopted from RSPCA Queensland Being Returned

“…In looking across reported findings on age, there is agreement and contradiction, driven partly by differences in scope and methodology, and potentially by location and culture. Powell et al [ 54 ] in a study on returns found that dogs older than 6 months, and medium to large size, at adoption, were more likely to be returned. Cain et al [ 29 ] found that when comparing senior to adult dogs, senior dogs had a lower chance of adoption as the length of stay increased until the 50-day mark, when senior dogs were more likely to be adopted than adult dogs.…”