POPULATION-DYNAMICS AND THE RISK OF EUTHANASIA FOR DOGS IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER

The records of dogs in an animal shelter in Chester County, PA were an alyzed for a 3 1/2 year period to describe the canine population dynam ics and to identify the risk factors for dogs' failure to be reclaimed and to be euthanized. Dogs greater-than-or-equal-to 1 year of age acc ounted for the majority (72.5%) of incoming dogs. Forty-one percent of dogs received by the shelter were purebred. The six most common breed s were Labrador Retriever (14.6%), German Shepherd (9.8%), Golden Retr iever (7.5%), Beagle (7.1%), Cocker Spaniel (5.5%), and Siberian Husky (5.3%), accounting for 50% of all incoming purebred dogs. Nearly one fifth (17.2%) of the live surrendered dogs were brought in by their ow ners specifically to be euthanized. A similar proportion (18.8%) of ad opted dogs were returned to the shelter. Fifty-two percent of surrende red dogs and 77% of stray dogs were discharged alive from the shelter (53.8% of the stray dogs were returned to their owners). The reclaim r ate was lowest (10.8%) for dogs < 4 months of age, and highest (68.8%) for dogs greater-than-or-equal-to 10 years of age. Over two-thirds (6 7.7%) of purebred dogs were reclaimed by their owners, compared with 4 1.2% of mixed breed dogs. More purebred dogs were reclaimed the same d ay they were admitted than mixed breed dogs (46.1% vs. 38.0%). Approxi mately 60% of all stray dogs greater-than-or-equal-to 1 year old were reclaimed each month while only 23.2% of dogs less than 1 year were re claimed. Mixed breed dogs were 1.8 times as likely to be euthanized as purebred dogs. The risk of euthanasia increased with age for mixed br eed dogs, but not for purebred dogs. Purebred dogs greater-than-or-equ al-to 3 years old were at an increased risk of euthanasia only when co mpared with dogs < 4 months of age. Of the dogs that were adopted, pur ebred dogs < 1 year of age spent fewer days (4.27) in the shelter than mixed breed dogs < 1 year (5.94), purebred dogs greater-than-or-equal -to 1 year (5.92), or mixed breed dogs greater-than-or-equal-to 1 year (10.06). Approximately one fifth (19.4%) of purebred dogs were adopte d through a breed rescue group.