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Pet Care Tips:
Surrendering Your Pet
We understand that relinquishing a pet is a personal and often painful decision. The staff at Animal Care want you to know that there are alternatives. The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate your needs and provide you with better options through various services/programs offered. Our commitment is to keep your beloved pet with you throughout its lifetime. To help us serve you better, please complete the section below.
| Services and/or Programs |
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No |
| Would you be interested in dog obedience classes at a location near you? |
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| Would you consider giving your pet to an animal rescue group as an alternative to surrendering here? |
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| If you are surrendering your pet due to minor medical conditions that you cannot afford, would you be interested in low cost/free veterinary services? |
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| Are you willing to participate in a low cost spay/neuter service for your pet? |
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| Would you be interested in learning about pet care tips for the busy pet owner? |
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| Are you in need of a “pet friendly” rental or housing community? |
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| May we contact you in the near future about your decision? |
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Please provide us with additional information:
Your Name_____________________________________________Date_____________
Services are for: dog(s)___________________________________________________
cat(s)__________________________________________________________________
Day phone (______)_____________________________________________________
Evening phone (______)__________________________________________________
Cell phone (______)______________________________________________________
Best time to call you______________________________________________________
Please print this page and mail your response to the Animal Care and Regulation Division, 1870 SW 39 Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 or Fax to 954-359-1349 or e-mail animalcare@broward.org.
Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment
Dogs:
1. Moving (7%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (4%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (4%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (3%)
8. Having no time for pet (4%)
9. Pet illness(es) (4%)
10. Biting (3%)
Cats:
1. Moving (8%)
2. Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
3. Too many animals in household (11%)
4. Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
5. Owner having personal problems (4%)
6. Inadequate facilities (2%)
7. No homes available for litter mates (6%)
8. Allergies in family (8%)
9. House soiling (5%)
10. Incompatibility with other pets (2%)
Specially trained researchers completed confidential individual interviews with pet owners who were relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. Pet owners were allowed to give up to five reasons for relinquishment. Interviewers did not, however, prioritize the responses. They simply recorded them in the order stated.
Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
In addition to the reasons for relinquishment, the study collected data on the pets being relinquished.The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age.
The majority of dogs (37.1 %) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year. Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs; 50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered. Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a veterinarian.
Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source.
Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were surrendered.
Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.
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