The Problem of Unwanted Pets: A Case Study in How Institutions "Think" about Clients' Needs

Abstract

The research on organizational framing and the metaphor of institutional "thinking" highlight the ways that social problems organizations shape the ameliorative services they deliver. Social problems work then perpetuates representations of problems that may not match the conditions clients face. This study extends social problems literature to argue that organizations sometimes "think" differently about the problems they intend to solve than do persons involved with these problems in everyday life. Using ethnographic research and interviews, this article contrasts the way in which animal sheltering, as an institution, frames the problem of unwanted animals with how the public interprets that problem. Institutional "thinking" portrays pets as commitments for life, and shelters thus strive to offer resources that allow people to keep their animals in their homes. However, interviews reveal that most people simply want troublesome animals out of their homes. This mismatch of intentions sheds new light on the complexities of claims-making and social problems work. In particular, the "paradox of popularization" means that efforts to gain public support for definitions of social problems often ignore or exacerbate aspects of problems that do not fit institutional frames.

The Australian excess cat population: An exploration of cat admissions and outcomes to RSPCA shelters

“…Other US studies support this suggestion:57.2% of owners had more than one reason, and up to five separate reasons for relinquishment of pet cats to 12 U.S. animal shelters (Salman, New et al 1998. It has been proposed that some owners surrender cats for behavioural reasons, but report a different reason because they believe the animal will have a better chance of being re-homed , DiGiacomo, Arluke et al 1998, Irvine 2003. Another factor which might have contributed to the low number of people reporting behavioural problems as a reason for surrender is that many people surrendering a pet experience feelings of guilt (Shore 2005), and attributing the reason to something beyond their control, such as accommodation issues, might help deflect blame from the relinquisher and from the pet (Shore, Petersen et al 2003).…”

“…Research investigating pet owner's decisions to surrender a cat to a shelter found that the reasons can be multifaceted and, in fact, many owners have several reasons contributing to the final decision (DiGiacomo, Arluke et al 1998) (Salman, New et al 1998). Further to this, there is evidence suggesting that people will avoid giving surrender reasons that may be perceived to influence the rehomability of the pet , Irvine 2003. For example, the reason for the surrender of the cat may be due to an undesirable behavioural trait; however, if the owner believes that this may contribute to the cat being euthanased, they may choose to report a reason not related to the animal itself .…”

Gender and leadership in animal sheltering organizations.

“…It is at this point within the timeline that Irvine (2003) situates the construction of the problem of pet overpopulation and the development of organizations and institutions to deal with the problem. Prior to the Civil War, the concept of a "homeless" pet didn't exist.…”

“…As these animals held little economic value for any owner, fewer animals were retrieved and the pound master killed the majority (Miller 2007). The fear of the scourge of rabies carried by roaming dogs in urban areas caused large scale round ups of homeless dogs who were euthanized by pound masters (Irvine 2003). In 1866, Henry Bergh founded The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) partially in response to perceived abuses by the local pound master.…”

“…Philadelphia contributed $2,500 to the organization for their service (Coleman 1924, Irvine 2003, Nicoll, Trifone and Samuels 2008. While White was one of the first women to advocate for animals in the United States, she was certainly not the last.…”