Pet adoption is the process of transferring responsibility for a pet that was previously owned by another party. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters, rescue groups, or other pet owners. Some organizations give adopters ownership of the pet, while others use a guardianship model wherein the organization retains some control over the animal's future use or care.
Online pet adoption sites have databases, searchable by the public, of pets being housed by thousands of animal shelters and rescue groups.
A black cat waiting to be adopted. Because of the superstitions surrounding black cats, they are disproportionately more common in shelters than in the general population and less likely to be adopted than are cats of other colors.
Before adoption
Animals are placed up for adoption for numerous reasons like being abandoned, lost, or rehomed from their current family. The need for rehoming sometimes results from allergies, death of a pet-owner, divorce, the birth of a baby, or relocation. Additionally, adoption mayweather, and traffic and enter adoption shelters in need of medical attention before entering the adoption process. After medical examinations, treatments, and behavioral tests, adoption centers (at their discretion) determine if the pet is healthy enough for adoption.[1]
Euthanasia (also known as putting down or putting to sleep) is another method that has been used when dealing with animals who may suffer from terminal illnesses, injuries, or over-population in shelters, although many veterinarians do not consider this to be an ethical use of their resources for young and healthy animals, while others argue that euthanasia is a more humane option than leaving a pet in a cage for very long periods of time.[citation needed]
Homes cannot always be found, however, and euthanasia is often used for the excess animals to make room for newer pets unless the organization has a no-kill policy. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 2.4million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized each year in the US because of a lack of homes.[2] Animal protection advocates campaign for adoption instead of buying animals in order to reduce the number of animals who have to be euthanized. Many shelters and animal rescues encourage the education of spaying or neutering a pet in order to reduce the number of animals euthanized in shelters and to help control the pet population.
To help lower the number of animals euthanized each year, some shelters have developed a no-kill policy. Best Friends Animal Society is the largest no-kill shelter in the United States who adopts policies such as "Save Them All".[3] This shelter and many others strive to keep their animals as long as it takes to find them new homes. City shelters and government-funded shelters rarely have this policy because of the large number of animals they receive.[citation needed]
No-kill shelters are usually run by groups that have volunteers or individuals with enough space to foster pets until a permanent home can be found. However, many of these groups and individuals have a finite number of spaces available. This means they will not take in new animals unless a space opens up, although they will often take back pets that they have adopted out previously. Sometimes they try to find foster homes where the animal can be placed temporarily until someone adopts it.[citation needed]
Physical appearance, behavior, and health of the dog play crucial roles in the pet adoption decision-making process, with many adopters prioritizing appearance over health. Social influences, such as breed popularity trends, and demographic factors, including household size and the presence of children, significantly affect the likelihood of dog ownership. Additionally, prior experience with dogs is a strong predictor of future dog adoption. Understanding these factors can help develop strategies to encourage responsible adoption practices and reduce the rates of dog relinquishment to shelters.[4][3]
Animal shelter for found animals in Raahe, Finland
Adoption process
The central issue in adoption is whether the new adopter can provide a safe, secure, and permanent home for the adopted pet. Shelters, pounds, and rescue organizations can refuse to supply pets to people whom they deem unable to provide a suitable home. A new owner may face training or behavioral challenges with a pet who has been neglected, abused, or left untrained. Adoption centers recommend patience, training, persistence, and consistency of care to help the pet overcome its past and get comfortable with the adopter.[5]
In Canada, reputable animal shelters or humane societies go through an extensive process to ensure that potential pets and their respective families are well-suited and prepared for their lives ahead. Adoption fees[6] include spaying/neutering, veterinary care including all updated vaccinations, microchipping, and pet insurance. Phone interviews, written questionnaires, and in-person visits gather information on the potential family's history with pets, their lifestyle, habits, and their ability to take on the conditions of the adopted pet. Adult pets can be more difficult to place because of existing habits or behaviors that are difficult to manage or unwanted. A rescue pet's unknown history may also complicate its ability to be adopted. Shelters and humane societies remain connected[clarification needed] with information packages on why pets are unwanted, what to expect in the first weeks of pet adoption, guides, recommendations, specific behavior training requests, and follow-up calls to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the adoption.[7]
A "forever home" is the home of an adopter who agrees to be responsible for the animal for the remainder of the pet's life.[citation needed] There are two basic understandings of the concept. A broad interpretation simply says that the adopter of the pet agrees that the animal's well-being is now their personal responsibility for the rest of the animal's life. If the adopter can no longer keep the animal for any reason, they would need to be responsible for finding a healthy and happy home for the animal. Many animal shelters require adopters to return the animal to the shelter if they can no longer care for the animal.[citation needed]
The adopter should have a plan in place for the care of the animal in the event of the adopter dying before the pet. A more restrictive view that some shelters attempt to integrate as part of the adoption agreement puts conditions on when and why the adopter could arrange to move the animal to a new family. Some agreements might specify allergies or violent behavior on the part of the animal as reasons allowable for an adopter to relinquish the animal. It is common for families to celebrate Gotcha Day on the anniversary of the animal's arrival at their forever home.[citation needed]
Education about and promotion of pet adoption is also done by animal welfare organizations and by local government animal control agencies. In 2016, the U.S. state of Georgia made the "adoptable dog" its state dog, similar to Colorado's adopted dog.[8]
After filling out an application to adopt an animal, there is also an adoption fee that must be paid to adopt an animal. Adoption fees serve several purposes.[9] If someone is willing to pay for an animal, chances are they will take care of him or her and not abuse or neglect their new pet. Most animals of age are spayed or neutered and up to date on all of their shots. Depending on the shelter or organization, some pets may be microchipped, which helps locate them if they are lost. The adoption fees help cover these costs and also help provide food for the animals left in the shelter.[10]
"Black Dog Syndrome (BDS) or Big Black Dog Syndrome (BBDS) is defined as “the extreme under-adoption of large black dogs based not on temperament or health, but rather on the confluence of a number of physical and environmental factors in conjunction with the Western symbolism of the color black” [11]".[12] "BDB was coined after reports from several animal shelters showed that black dogs are less likely to be adopted (;[13][14][11] and are more likely to be euthanized,[11] compared with lighter-colored dogs." [15]
Historically there are negative associations around black animals,[15][12] but there are many biases associated with particular breeds and lineages of dogs that also lead to bias and higher euthanasia rates. Some studies have suggested that: "BDB is a product of the social cognition phenomena known as “base rate fallacy”: black dogs are only more common in shelters because there are more of them (the dark color gene is dominant;[16][17]".[15]
A 2016 study in Kentucky found that "the significant interaction between breed size and coat shade did not support the purported BBDS: big dogs had similar outcomes regardless of color, and among smaller dogs, black dogs had worse outcomes than non-black counterparts.".[12] A 2024 study by Kulak found that: "The existence of BDB is inconsistent across empirical and anecdotal literature (e.g., Goleman et al., 2014;[11][18][12]). Our research suppports that BDB might not be entirely founded; rather, BDB might be a product of base rate fallacy or other factors entirely (;[17][19]).".[15] "Examining a large municipal animal shelter with a large number of dog and cat data, color and coat pattern were implicated in adoption rates, with more light-colored animals adopted and fewer euthanized than their dark-colored and patterned counterparts ([20]). "Wells and Hepper (1992) reported that potential adopters at an animal shelter in Northern Ireland preferred photographs of dogs with blonde over black coats, but when compared with actual purchase records, the color provided no significant impact on purchase.".[12] "[A] study on dogs held at two no-kill shelters in New York State found that color was not implicated in length of stay.[16]".[12] "[S]ome research found no evidence for BDB (Trevathan-Minnis et al., 2021;[21]), instead determining that purebred status and size matter more." [12]" [15]
Pet ownership
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) (2018), being responsible for a pet requires commitment and should be considered a privilege. Similar to having children, the pet depends on the owner for their needs such as food and shelter, exercise and mental stimulation, and veterinary care. When choosing to adopt a pet, the lifestyle of the owner and the pet are recommended to be compatible. Once a pet is chosen, the owner is recommended to identify it the pet needs and medical attention like being spayed or neutered. If a situation arises that the owner can no longer provide a suitable household for the animal, rehoming is recommended. The AVMA presents guidelines for being a responsible pet owner.[22] This guideline is a resource of things to consider before becoming a pet owner.
Rescue dog
A rescue dog is a dog that has been placed in a new home after being abused, neglected, or abandoned by its previous owner.[23] The term can also apply to dogs that are found as strays, surrendered by owners for a variety of reasons, including relationship breakdowns, moving home where the owner is unable or unwilling to take their pets, or elderly people who are not permitted to take their dog(s) into a nursing home.[24]
Many animal rescue organisations exist to rescue, care for and re-home dogs and protect them from unnecessary euthanasia.[25] Common examples include the RSPCA in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, the ISPCA in Ireland, or the ASPCA in the United States. Many rescue dogs are rehomed quickly, but some wait longer for a home. This may be relevant when the dog is older.[26][27] Some agencies provide ongoing health care and support for older dogs after they have been placed in a home. There are several charities dedicated to rescuing and rehoming older dogs.[28]
The ASPCA estimates that approximately 3.3million dogs in the United States enter shelters each year. Of these, 1.6million are adopted, 670,000 are euthanized, and 620,000 are returned to their previous owners.[29] A study conducted by the United States National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) in 1998 found that the main reasons for pets being relinquished are: family moving, landlord will not allow pets, too many animals in household, cost of keeping the pet, owner is having personal problems, inadequate facilities, and no homes available for puppies. The study found that 47.7% of dogs turned in to shelters were not altered (spayed or neutered), 33% had not been to a veterinarian, and 96% of dogs had no obedience training. The conclusion of the researchers was that the owners who were relinquishing their pets did not have the knowledge to be responsible dog owners, and that educational programs aimed at present and prospective owners would reduce the number of dogs relinquished to animal shelters.[30][31]
An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would be penned or impounded until they were claimed by their owners.
Trap–neuter–return (TNR), also known as trap–neuter–release, is a controversial method that attempts to manage populations of feral cats. The process involves live-trapping the cats, having them neutered, ear-tipped for identification, and, if possible, vaccinated, then releasing them back into the outdoors. If the location is deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, the cats may be relocated to other appropriate areas. Often, friendly adults and kittens young enough to be easily socialized are retained and placed for adoption. Feral cats cannot be socialized, shun most human interaction and do not fare well in confinement, so they are not retained. Cats suffering from severe medical problems such as terminal, contagious, or untreatable illnesses or injuries are often euthanized.
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is a group dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable homes for them. Many rescue groups are created by and run by volunteers, who take animals into their homes and care for them—including training, playing, handling medical issues, and solving behavior problems—until a suitable permanent home can be found.
In some countries there is an overpopulation of pets such as cats, dogs, and exotic animals. In the United States, six to eight million animals are brought to shelters each year, of which an estimated three to four million are subsequently euthanized, including 2.7 million considered healthy and adoptable. Euthanasia numbers have declined since the 1970s, when U.S. shelters euthanized an estimated 12 to 20 million animals. Most humane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups urge animal caregivers to have their animals spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted and accidental litters that could contribute to this dynamic.
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA) is one of the largest humane organizations in the United States. Located in San Mateo County, California, it is a private non-profit charitable organization. It is an animal rescue, rehabilitation and adoption operation with two locations. The Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion, where adoptable animals are housed, is in the city of Burlingame and the older physical plant, which serves as the intake shelter, is located at Coyote Point in the city of San Mateo. PHS/SPCA has been responsible for considerable progress in the California Legislature with new humane laws in the state, especially since the late 1970s. PHS/SPCA has been characterized as a progressive and innovative humane organization.
Dogs Trust, known until 2003 as the National Canine Defence League, is a British animal welfare charity and humane society which specialises in the well-being of dogs. It is the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom, caring for over 15,000 animals each year. Dogs Trust's primary objective is to protect all dogs in the UK and elsewhere from maltreatment, cruelty and suffering. It focuses on the rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs which have been either abandoned or given up by their owners through rehoming services.
A no-kill shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals based on time limits or capacity, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals, animals suffering poor quality of life, or those considered dangerous to public safety. Some no-kill shelters will commit to not killing any animals at all, under any circumstance, except as required by law. A no-kill shelter uses many strategies to promote shelter animals; to expanding its resources using volunteers, housing and medical protocols; and to work actively to lower the number of homeless animals entering the shelter system. Up to ten percent of animals could be killed in a no-kill shelter and still be considered a no-kill shelter.
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, New York, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world.
AB 1634 was a 2007 bill in the California State Legislature which would require that dogs and cats in California be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.
BAD RAP is an animal welfare and rescue group based in Oakland, California, devoted to caring for and improving the public image of pit bull terriers as pets.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is a volunteer-based, non-government organization whose goal is to prevent animal cruelty through education, animal sheltering and advocacy, based in Quezon City, Philippines. It was founded in 1954 by Muriel Jay. PAWS believes that the creation of a more peaceful society starts with the widening of mankind's circle of compassion which includes animals, thereby envisions a nation that respects animals, practices responsible pet ownership and protects wildlife. The volunteer-based organization rehabilitates these animals in the hope of finding them new homes and a second chance at a good life. PAWS does not take in pets of other people, but only victims of cruelty or neglect where the animal offenders are charged with violation of the Animal Welfare Act in court.
The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to promoting animal welfare and animal husbandry practices, strengthening the human-animal bond, and safeguarding the rights of responsible animal owners and professionals through research, public education and public policy. The NAIA mission is "to promote the welfare of animals."
Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) is a registered non-profit, non-government animal welfare organization in the Philippines. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal lovers determined to help the plight of animals in the Philippines. The current president of CARA is Nancy Cu-Unjieng.
Abandoned pets are companion animals that are either inadvertently or deliberately abandoned by their owners, by either dumping the animals on the streets, leaving them alone in a vacant property, or relinquishing them at an animal shelter.
Joybound People & Pets, formerly the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), is a nonprofit organization founded by Elaine and Tony La Russa, based in Walnut Creek, California. Joybound rescues dogs and cats from public animal shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized and adopts them into new homes. Their programs include a spay and neuter clinic, training classes, psychiatric service dog training for military veterans, a volunteer therapy dog program, and humane education programs for children.
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP), formerly known as the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania, known commonly as Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center (ARL), is an animal welfare organization founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1909. The ARL is a non-profit organization that offers various services to support both animals and pet owners alike. It is the only animal shelter in the Pittsburgh area that accepts both domestic animals and wildlife. The agency's shelter and clinic are located in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood, while its wildlife rehabilitation center and boarding kennels are a few miles away in Verona, Pennsylvania. The organization maintains a contract with the city of Pittsburgh and accepts all stray pets that are apprehended by the Animal Control unit.
The North Carolina Animal Protection Act aims to protect pets and their owners in North Carolina. This legislation models the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and can be found in the North Carolina General Statutes under Chapter 19A: Protection Of Animals, Article 3, consisting of six articles.
The Richmond SPCA is an independent non-profit animal shelter in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1891.
The Sato Project is an animal rescue and protection organization founded in 2011 by British-born Christina Beckles. It works to rescue abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico, educating the public and advocating for abused and abandoned dogs. "Sato" is the Spanish word used in Puerto Rico and Cuba for referring to stray dogs or cats. Many of the project's missions have involved airlifting dogs before and after natural disasters, including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico in 2019 and 2020. "Spayathon" is a spaying and neutering program, attended by Sato Project and other animal rights organizations in Puerto Rico, which has had an impact on the stray dog population.
Animal Kingdom Foundation or AKF, is a non-profit animal welfare non-governmental organization based in the Philippines. Founded in 2002, it is committed to "improving the living and welfare conditions of animals", eliminating the trade of dog meat for human consumption, and advocating for the improvement of animal living conditions.
1 2 3 4 Leonard, A. (2011). The plight of “big black dogs” in American animal shelters: Color-based canine discrimination. Pap Kroeber Anthropological Sociology, 99(1), 168–183.
1 2 Brown, W. P., Davidson, J. P., & Zuefle, M. E. (2013). Effects of phenotypic characteristics on the length of stay of dogs at two no kill animal shelters. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16(1), 2–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2013.740967
1 2 Woodward, L. (2016, May 3). Are black dogs unadoptable? Rescue shelters perpetuate a false belief that dark-coated animals are unwanted. Zocalo Public Square. https://www.zocalopublicsquare. org/2016/05/03/are-black-dogs-unadoptable/ideas/nexus/
↑ Woodward, L., Milliken, J., & Humy, S. (2012). Give a dog a bad name and hang him: Evaluating big, black dog syndrome. Society & Animals, 20(3), 236–253. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306- 1234123
↑ Lepper, M., Kass, P. H. and Hart, L. A. 2002. Prediction of adoption versus euthanasia among dogs and cats in a California animal shelter. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5(1): 29–42.
↑ Woodward, L. (2016, May 3). Are black dogs unadoptable? Rescue shelters perpetuate a false belief that dark-coated animals are unwanted. Zocalo Public Square. https://www.zocalopublicsquare. org/2016/05/03/are-black-dogs-unadoptable/ideas/nexus/
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
