To keep or not to keep: Exploring why companion dog owners relinquish

Abstract Background : The relinquishment of companion dogs can have negative repercussions for both dogs and their owners. Previous research has largely focused on categorising reasons for companion dog relinquishment, with less attention paid to the experiences of owners who are considering relinquishment, or the support needed to reduce relinquishment. To help address these gaps, this study aimed to identify (1) the most common reasons which contribute to the consideration of relinquishment; (2) which of these are most likely to result in the keeping of vs the relinquishment of companion dogs, and (3) what types of support may be most effective in helping owners who are considering relinquishment to keep their dogs. Methods : Survey data were collected from two groups: those who considered relinquishment and ultimately relinquished their dogs (n = 178) and those who considered relinquishment and kept them (n = 145). Respondents were asked to provide all reasons for considering relinquishment from an extensive list, as well as all supports or circumstances that contributed to their decision to keep the dog, or that may have allowed them to keep their dog. Results : Results demonstrated that considering relinquishment was typically driven by multiple reasons, with 23% (n = 73/323) of respondents indicating a combination of both dog behaviour and human/household related reasons. While some specific reasons were more often associated with relinquishing or keeping, these associations were not significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. Among those who kept their dogs, 57% (n = 82/145) agreed that they were able to do so due to receiving behavioural, emotional, financial, and/or housing support. Of those who relinquished but would have preferred to keep their dogs, 73% (n = 110/150) agreed that receiving one of these supports could have helped them keep their dog. Conclusion : We suggest that effectively reducing relinquishment, both at the population level and in individual cases, may require holistic approaches. While results indicate that diverting relinquishment is possible in many cases, we identify which areas of support may be most effective across different scenarios.