Characterizing shelter intake, length of stay, and outcomes among free-ranging dogs in animal welfare organizations in India

Abstract Background- Countries in Global South carry the economic and social burden of unmanaged and understudied populations of free-ranging dogs globally. However, veterinary, shelter science and behaviour research fields are dominated by research from Global North countries and cater to a partial perspective. In this exploratory study, we try to bridge the gap of this divide by investigating the intake and outcome patterns of admitted free-ranging dogs in animal rescue organizations in India by analysing diverse data from over 24,000 records. We identify critical trends in admission causes, clinical burdens, and animal survival rates across from four geographically and institutionally distinct animal shelters in India between 2018 and 2022. Results- Average shelter intake volume grew by approximately 35% per year over the study period. Physical trauma emerged as the primary driver of admissions across all sites, regardless of regional differences in climate or urbanisation. While live outcomes generally exceeded non-live outcomes in most shelters, non-live outcomes (death and euthanasia) occurred at high rates (40–60%), substantially higher than reported Global North benchmarks. Survival was strongly associated with clinical presentation: neurological cases, most plausibly linked to endemic rabies and distemper, carried the poorest prognosis, with a median survival time of only one day. Systemic, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal conditions also carried significantly higher hazards for non-live outcomes. The overall median length of stay was 8 days, though hospitalization duration varied significantly, with oncological cases requiring the longest care. Conclusion- The findings characterise Indian shelters not as rehoming centres as a downstream safety net, for animal welfare crises originating from a lack of upstream population management, vaccination coverage, and injury prevention infrastructure. Furthermore, the study identifies the absence of standardised data collection as a fundamental barrier to evidence-based policy, highlighting an urgent need for shared data standards to improve animal welfare and public health outcomes across the Indian animal rescue sector. Ultimately, this study aims to provide a foundational evidence base and proof-of-concept for evaluating shelter science and canine welfare in Global South and other countries facing similar issues.