Responsible Pet Ownership

We aim to prevent irresponsible abandonment of pets that leads many problems by increasing awareness and educating future owners on what to expect when owning a pet

Tag Words: Responsible Pet Ownership; Personality Test

Authors: Jovie Mae Herb and Brian LaBarre with Julie M. Fagan, Ph.D.

Summary

Pets are constantly being given up and abandoned for many different reasons. These reasons are most usually associated with the pet owner not being aware of or not knowing what to expect and how to care for the animal. Pet abandonment leads to overcrowding of animal shelters, animal abuse, increased puppy mill production, and the unnecessary death of innocent animals. Our service project was aimed at educating future pet owners on the real responsibilities of owning a pet by taking a survey we created that indicates what pets are most compatible with their lifestyle. As with many things in life, people often buy what they want rather than what is best for them, but we are hoping through awareness and our survey, a step can be taken in the right direction to give a pet owner both.

Video Link

Lassie and TimmyBook, Film and Television Series

The Issue: Pet Ownerships

Owning PetsThere are many reasons people choose to own pets. It ranges anywhere from providing a service to being a companion to family members. Being a guard animal, helping out with hunting, and competing in shows are all common reasons that people own pets, but owning pets as a companion is the most common reason people have pets. Companion animals are purchased or taken in by families looking to add another member, people living by themselves, newlyweds in preparation for the responsibilities of a baby, older people once their children have moved out, people who wish to give an animal a better life, and by people who just want one in general.

Besides the fact that owning pets is heavily advertised in movies, TV, and the media, owning pets has been shown to have many positive effects. Pets increase opportunities to meet other people (Beck, Myers, 1996). Whether it be at pet shows and conventions, at the park, pet store, or while exercising, interacting with your pet increases interaction with new people. Also, having a pet to play with and walk increases fitness, exercise, and health (Serpell, 1991). Pet ownership has even been shown to decrease blood pressure and seriously improve the health of people with heart health problems (Friedman, et al, 1980). Pets have also been shown to teach nurturing behavior to children and help people of all ages appreciate nonverbal communication (Beck, Myers, 1996). Many people are aware of these great benefits that come with owning a pet, but the reason that pet abandonment and abuse is such a prevalent issue today is because the responsibilities of owning pets is not as well known.

Pet AbandonmentPet abandonment is a major issue in America. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 5 to 7 million animals enter shelters every year, and 3 to 4 million of those pets are euthanized. Approximately fifty percent of admitted animals are abandoned by their owners. Reasons for pet abandonment vary. The top ten reasons pets are abandoned to shelters are listed below:

Cats1. Too many in house2. Allergies3. Moving4. Cost of pet maintenance5. Landlord issues6. No homes for littermates7. House soiling

8. Personal problems9. Inadequate facilities10. Doesn't get along with other petsDogs1. Moving2. Landlord issues3. Cost of pet maintenance4. No time for pet

5. Inadequate facilities6. Too many pets in home7. Pet illnesses

8. Personal problems9. Biting10. No homes for littermates

Statistics taken from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (4)

Animal SheltersSome animal shelters will care for strays, and often have a specified length for which those strays are permitted to remain there until claimed by owners. The stray holding period is generally determined by the government, so it varies from town to town. Some shelters are required to take in any pet that is dropped off, and may not even have a time restraint for that animal’s stay. However, the issue is that there may not be enough space or resources for However, euthanasia, the killing of an animal for humane reasons, is often performed at the shelters based on the animals’ disposition, health or space and resources available to humanely shelter it (10).Very often when an animal does contract an illness or exhibits challenging behavior, the shelter works to available veterinary and behavioral assistance, and attempt to find responsible fosterhomes to get the animal into a less stressful environment. Unfortunately, shelters may not have the capital to provide that kind of care or know of a dependable rescue group or foster home. In such instances, euthanasia may be necessary.

Table 1: Sources of Dogs and Cats Entering Reporting Shelters (%)Submitted by Animal Control

1994 1995 1996 1997Dogs 57.5 45.0 42.5 42.4Cats 46.6 35.9 31.9 33.2Unspecified NA 55.8 NA 37.8Overall 53.0 42.6 36.0 38.4

Relinquished by Owner1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs 25.7 26.9 25.3 27.0Cats 32.7 34.3 30.7 35.0Unspecified NA 22.7 24.6 26.0Overall 28.6 29.4 27.5 30.2

Other Sources1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs 16.8 10.5 12.8 13.1Cats 20.7 13.9 18.2 16.9

Unspecified NA 8.7 24.4 12.8Overall 18.4 11.6 15.6 14.7

Unknown Sources1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs NA 17.5 19.3 17.5Cats NA 15.9 19.2 14.9Unspecified NA 12.8 51.0 23.4Overall NA 16.4 20.8 16.8

Table 2: Disposition of Dogs and Cats Entering Reporting Shelters (%)Adopted

1994 1995 1996 1997Dogs 23.2 25.5 25.8 25.0Cats 21.7 23.4 24.0 24.4Unspecified NA 16.0 13.1 13.7Overall 22.6 23.7 24.0 23.9

Returned to Owner1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs 15.3 16.3 16.1 15.8Cats 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.0Unspecified NA 8.8 7.0 9.3Overall 10.0 10.0 9.7 9.8

Euthanized1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs 58.4 55.1 56.0 56.4Cats 72.4 71.4 71.8 71.0Unspecified NA 71.8 76.3 74.4Overall 64.1 63.1 64.1 63.6

Other1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs 3.1 2.2 1.7 2.4Cats 3.6 2.3 1.9 2.3Unspecified NA 2.9 3.5 2.6Overall 3.3 2.3 2.0 2.4

Unknown1994 1995 1996 1997

Dogs NA 0.9 0.4 0.4Cats NA 0.6 0.2 0.3Unspecified NA 0.5 NA NAOverall NA 0.8 0.3 0.4Statistics taken from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (9)

As seen from the statistics above, pet abandonment into shelters had been increasing since 1994. Another point to observe is the percentage of animals euthanized. In 1997, 56.4% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter the shelter were put down. These numbers could drastically be reduced if the 30% of the animals relinquished by their owners had somehow aware of the responsibilities of taking in that pet.

Public Health ProblemsWhen it comes to animals, public health officials are concerned of the spread of zoonotic diseases. If a disease is zoonotic, it holds the potential to spread from people to animals. Some known diseases that can be contracted from your pet are rabies, tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and toxoplasmosis. Rabies, the most lethal of the zoonotic diseases, is a viral disease that is spread through the bite of an infected animal. It causes diseases in the victim’s central nervous system, clearly affecting the brain and inducing death if not immediately treated. Symptoms initially appear as a fever, headache, and discomfort, but develop into a more intense level of anxiety, confusion, hypersalivation, aggression, and hallucinations (5). Because of the severity of the disease, it is required of most states to get their dog rabies vaccinated (6). Keeping your pet up with vaccines and flea preventatives are all a part of being a responsible pet owner and contributes to the overall wellness of your community.

Puppy MillsA major conflict relating to responsible pet ownership is responsible pet adoption. Despite the numerous pets in need of being adopted at, 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders. Puppy mills are a type of commercial industry focused on breeding dogs for profit. Unfortunately, their method of breeding disregards genetic relationships may lead to physical and mental ailments.

According to the ASPCA, some congenital and heredity conditions that are found with puppy mill breeding are:

Epilepsy Heart disease Kidney disease Musculoskeletal disorders (hip

dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.) Endocrine disorders (diabetes,

hyperthyroidism) Blood disorders (anemia, Von

Willebrand disease) Deafness Eye problems (cataracts,

glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.) Respiratory disorders (8)

Costs of keeping

Table 3: US Pet Ownership in 2007Dogs Cats Birds Horses

Percent of households owning 37.20% 32.40% 3.90% 1.80%

Number of households owning

43,021,000

37,460,000 4,453,000 2,087,000

Average number owned per household

1.7 2.2 2.5 3.5

Total number in United States 72,114,000

81,721,000 11,199,000 7,295,000

Veterinary visits per household per year (mean)

2.6 1.7 0.3 2.2

Veterinary expenditure per household per year (mean)

$356 $190 $25 $360

Veterinary expenditure per animal (mean)

$200 $81 $9 $92

Statistics Taken from AVMA (7)Examples of Responsible Pet Ownership in the Media- Community (TV Show) Puppy Paradehttp://www.hulu.com/watch/192723/community-puppy-parade#s-p2-sr-i1- Pit Boss (TV Show): Former actor Shorty Rossi rescues, rehabilitates and trains Pit Bullshttp://animal.discovery.com/tv/pit-boss/- The Dog Whisperer (TV Show): Dog behavior specialisthttp://www.cesarsway.com/- Marley and Me (Movie): Shows how a family raising a dog is not so easyhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822832/

See Also:- Vaccines available for your pet and guidelines: http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf- Zoonotic Disease and Exotic Pets: A Public Health Policy Analysishttp://www.sboh.wa.gov/Pubs/docs/Zoonotics_ExoticPets.pdf

References

1. Beck, Alan M., and Myers, Marshall N. “Health Enhancement and Companion Animal Ownership” Annual Review Public Health 17 (1996): 247-257. < http://tranquilitytanks.net/Documents/COMPANION%20ANIMALS%20AND%20HEALTH.pdf>

2. Friedmann, Erika, Katcher, Aaron H., Lynch, James J., Thomas, Sue A. “Animal Companions and One-Year Survival of Patients After Discharge From a Coronary Care Unit” Public Health Reports 95 (1980): 307-312. < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1422527/pdf/pubhealthrep00128-0003.pdf>

3. Serpell, James. “Beneficial Effects of Pet Ownership on Some Aspects of Human Health and Beahviour” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 84 (1991): 717-720. < http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Portals/36/media/Serpell_Beneficial_Effects.pdf>

4. http://www.petpopulation.org/topten.html5. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/6. http://vaccines.dogsadversereactions.com/files/RabiesLaws.pdf7. http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/ownership.asp8. http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/what-is-a-puppy-mill.html9. http://www.petpopulation.org/statsurvey.html10. http://www.humanesociety.org/animal_community/resources/qa/common_questions_on_

shelters.html

The Service Project: Personality Test

In order to make future pet owners aware of what they will be getting themselves into, we created a personality test that identifies which pet is best suited for that individual. The questions were created and designed to bring to the test taker what they may not have thought of asking his or her self before adopting a pet and researched answers that would coincide with qualities of owning certain pets. The way the test taker responds to the questionnaire provides the type of pet that is most suitable to his or her lifestyle. This promotes responsible pet ownership in that it forces the test taker to be conscientious of the reality of owning and caring for a pet. By placing test takers with the proper type of pet that best fits their daily routines, we prevent pet abandonment of unfit pets, animal shelter occupancy for those pets that are relinquished by their owners, euthanasia due to lack of resources to provide ample humane care for the pets in the shelter. Also, this personality test promotes a greater chance in improving the quality of life of the pet that does get adopted after the completion of the survey. Because these owners will be aware of the responsibilities of pet needs, they will be better prepared for when they bring their new friend home.

Personality test:http://quizilla.teennick.com/quizzes/17719838/responsible-pet-ownership

Editorials

Being a Responsible Pet Owner

Too many times we are presented with situations where irresponsible owners have or have had pets. Whether it is yourself, a friend or family member, someone seen on TV or in the news, or one of the many abandoned pets seen in a shelter or offered up in an adoption listing, it is nearly impossible to not come across at least a few cases of irresponsible pet ownership. Owning a pet, regardless of the type of pet, is a very serious responsibility. Specific pets have specific needs that many owners are unaware of when they accept a pet into their home. There are many factors such as sleep cycles, feeding methods, behavior, training, and shelter among others that owners are just completely oblivious to when taking in a pet. It may be because they think an animal is just so cute, because their son or daughter really wants one, because all of their friends are getting one, but no matter what the reason, they need to accept the full responsibilities for pet care. When bringing a human child into one’s home, each person must go through nine months of pregnancy or a long process of adoption, during which they learn all of the major responsibilities of taking care of a child, but this process is lacking with pets. When an owner sees that his/her pet is not what he/she expected, that person may choose to abandon or give up that animal, which creates further overcrowding of animal shelters and increased production of puppy mills. I have personally seen many cases of irresponsible pet ownership in my life, which has led to giving away that pet. Some of these reasons have been improper knowledge and expectations of behavior, not enough time to train properly, incompatibility with another pet, housing restrictions, lack of interest in a pet, and inability to keep up with daily and weekly care. These are just a few of the reasons I have seen pets being given up and abandoned in my life, but for any reason that a pet would be given up, just a small amount of education would nearly solve the problem. Mostly every reason that a pet is given away could have been prevented with the proper information being presented to the owner to determine if they are compatible and capable of caring for that pet. Something must be done to give proper pet education to future pet owners, but I have created a survey as a place to start. In this survey [located at www.???.com], each participant answers simple questions such as how much time is he/she willing to devote to daily and weekly upkeep or a pet, which will lead the participant to a list of what pets they would be most compatible with and how compatible he/she is with that specific pet. Although this is only a small step, taking this survey would be a step in the right direction in order to make yourself a responsible pet owner and give you the most out of your future pet. Hopefully once you have been educated, you can spread what you have learned to others, and contribute to a society full of responsible pet owners.

Brian L.New Brunswick, NJ

Responsible Pet OwnershipJovie H.

Did you know that more than 63% of households in the US own a pet? Pets have become a part of the American family. The trends in recent years have shown that more and more people are introducing these new playmates into their homes. Unfortunately, there’s more to just the cute

companion in your living room than just eating and sleeping. Responsibly researching on what pet is best suited for you is critical to life after adoption.

Can you deal with a cat yelping all night when she’s in heat? Do you have anyone to leave you fish with when you go away on vacation? Does your Chow Chow get along with your Chihuahua? At work, a doctor had to remove an eye from a pug because it had popped out of its socket when it had gotten into a fight with another pug (ironically, his name was Popeye). Are you prepared for these breed susceptible downfalls? Are you prepared for the costly vet bill?

The average veterinary costs for every household in 2001 were approximately $261 for dogs. In 2007 the average cost went up to $356. It’s getting more costly to keep pets in your home, and you need to understand your pets needs cannot be overlooked. As a full time student at Rutgers, the majority of you are or will be paying thousands of dollars in debt. You may be stretched thin between the minimum of 12 credits a semester, the part-time job you intend to keep, and, let’s face it, the weekend partying be it dorms, houses or bars. So despite the fact that your fraternity brother’s pit bull is so much fun to play with, are you really compromise your own time to get a new pet of your own?

Researching what pet and breed is right for you could help reduce 5 to 7 million animals dumped at shelters each year. It prevents euthanasia of those pets if they never get adopted. It could save you the time and money investing in a pet that you ultimately do not want. The big difference in just a little looking up can do, is landing you your perfect companion, whether it be a pony, a poodle, a Persian or a plant.