PLASMA-CORTISOL LEVELS OF DOGS AT A COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

Plasma cortisol levels were examined to assess the stress of dogs in a county animal shelter. Groups of dogs confined in the shelter for the ir 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day had higher cortisol levels than did a group ma intained in the shelter for more than 9 days. Dogs in the shelter for an intermediate period (Day 4-9) had intermediate levels of cortisol. The cortisol concentrations of dogs during their first day in the shel ter were greater than either those of the same dogs on Day 4/5 in the shelter or those of a group of pet dogs sampled in their own homes. Th ere was no overall effect of 20 min of social interaction with a human (e.g., petting) on the plasma cortisol levels of dogs in the shelter on Day 1-3. However, the gender of the petter did affect cortisol leve ls. Those dogs interacting with a female had lower cortisol concentrat ions at the end of the session than did dogs interacting with a male. The results suggest that confinement in a public animal shelter produc es a prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Further, it appears that some subtle aspect of interaction with a huma n may be capable of moderating this response. Possible implications fo r the welfare of confined dogs, and for the development of behavior pr oblems in dogs obtained from shelters, are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Inc.