A recent study conducted by La Trobe University has uncovered significant insights into why pet owners surrender their dogs and cats to shelters in Australia. Each year, more than 9,000 animals are placed in shelters due to owners’ inability to keep or care for them.
Published in the journal Animals, the study examined data from five shelters across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia from July 2018 to June 2023. The research involved an analysis of 46,820 companion animals and focused on the socio-economic factors contributing to pet relinquishment.
The findings indicate that housing insecurity is the most prevalent reason for surrender, affecting both low and high socio-economic groups. Financial difficulties were more pronounced in lower socio-economic households, while health care needs of pet owners were more significant in higher socio-economic demographics.
Sonya McDowall, a PhD candidate at La Trobe University’s School of Psychology and Public Health, emphasized the importance of understanding these factors to mitigate the financial and ethical dilemmas posed by the increasing number of pets in shelters.
She noted that the human and animal welfare sectors have often operated independently, failing to integrate relevant public policy and service delivery systems that could yield better outcomes for both groups.
“These findings underscore the critical role socio-economic factors play in the relinquishment of companion animals, providing a foundation for targeted interventions that support animal welfare across various socio-economic backgrounds,” McDowall stated.
The study advocates for adopting a holistic Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework to inform policies and interventions aimed at enhancing the welfare of both humans and their companion animals.
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