Canine euthanasia risks
Purebred dogs most likely to be saved
Adult dogs at highest risk of dying in shelters
By Norma Bennett Woolf
Introduction
A three-year study of euthanasia risks in a Philadelphia-area animal shelter
concluded that adult dogs are most likely to die, purebred dogs are more likely
to be reclaimed by owners, and that compilation of such information is necessary
for the design of community intervention programs to reduce euthanasia of dogs
and cats.
The study examined the records of all incoming dogs at the Chester County Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from May 1990-October 1993. It was
conducted by Gary J. Petronek DVM and Larry T. Glickman DVM, faculty at the
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Purdue University School of Veterinary
Medicine, and Michael R. Moyer DVM of Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital in Bensalem,
Pennsylvania. Petronek was director of the shelter from 1988-92; Moyer was director
from 1992-1994.
Major findings
- More than 47 percent of the 4582 stray dogs were purebred, but they were
reclaimed at a higher rate and with fewer days in the shelter than mixed breed
dogs.
- More than 67 percent of purebreds were returned to their owners;
- 41 percent of mixed breeds were reclaimed.
"This suggests that owners of purebred dogs were more aware
that their dog was missing, were more concerned with getting their dog
back promptly, or that they expended greater effort in attempting to locate
their dog," the authors wrote. "This is consistent with a national
survey that indicated length of ownership was related to the initial cost
of the animal."
- Purebreds comprised a lower percentage (32.7) of surrendered dogs, and their
adoption rate (49.9) was slightly less than the 51.4 percent rate for mixed
breeds.
- A bit more than 19 percent of the purebred dogs were placed with a breed
rescue group.
". . . the CCSPCA worked closely with a well-organized network
of local purebred rescue groups, the All Breed Rescue Alliance, which
represented 72 breeds, in addition to 66 independent breed rescue groups,"
the authors wrote.
- Among purebreds, older dogs were far more likely to be reclaimed than younger
dogs. About 22 percent of puppies less than four months old were returned
to owners, along with 55 percent of juvenile dogs (four-11 months); 65 percent
of young adults (13-35 months); 71 percent of adults (3-10 years); and 75
percent of aged dogs (10 years or older).
- Mixed breed dogs were 1.8 times more likely to be euthanized as purebred
dogs, and the risk of euthanasia increased with age for mixed breeds but not
purebreds.
- Puppies and young adults were more likely to be adopted in both purebreds
and mixed breeds.
- Numbers of dogs entering the shelter and number of reclaimed dogs and adoption
varied by month. More dogs were reclaimed in April, May, August, and October.
- The six most common breeds of stray dogs were Labrador Retriever, Golden
Retriever, German Shepherd, Beagle, Siberian Husky, and Rottweiler.
- More than 18 percent of the dogs adopted out came back, but this shelter
offers a high incentive to return any dog that doesn't work out instead of
giving it away or taking it to another shelter - they refund all adoption
fees except the $10 processing fee.
Discussion
"These findings confirm the anecdotal reports that dogs euthanized
in some animal shelters are generally adult and young adults rather than puppies,"
the authors wrote. "Adult stray dogs were responsible for a large proportion
(48 percent) of incoming dogs at CCSPCA suggesting that more effective deterrents
to dogs running at large could substantially reduce the seasonal burden on
this shelter."
The percentage of purebred dogs in the shelter population (41.2 percent) is
far higher than the number of purebreds found in shelters nationally (7.3 percent,
reported by Nassar, Talboy, and Moulton, 1992, American Humane Association).
However, in the absence of data about the number of purebred dogs in the county,
it is not clear whether this higher number reflects the representation of purebred
vs mixed breed dogs in the county. It may reflect, according to the authors,
a greater tendency for purebred dogs to stray, a propensity for underground
confinement systems among purebred dog owners, an ease in capturing purebred
dogs, or a willingness of people to catch or report stray purebreds more than
mixed breed purebreds.
The study had its limits. Breed identification was determined by shelter staff
for stray dogs, and owners were not required to submit registration papers as
proof that a surrendered dog was indeed purebred. Therefore, although all the
dogs listed as purebred fit the general description of the breed, it is possible
that some were mixed breeds.
The biggest drawbacks to the study were the lack of information on the reason
for surrender of the dog and the reason for euthanasia, two bits of data that
could help focus prevention programs
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