Exploring the Relationship Between Human Social Deprivation and Animal Surrender to Shelters in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

Previous studies identify owner-related issues, such as cost and housing, as common reasons for relinquishment of companion animals to animal shelters. It is likely that the burden of surrendering for owner-related reasons falls on those who are socially vulnerable (e.g., low income, unemployed); however, very few studies have assessed social determinants as a predictor of animal relinquishment. The present study used the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD), which uses four factors of social vulnerability (Ethnocultural Composition, Economic Dependency, Residential Instability, and Situational Vulnerability) to predict risk of surrender for various reasons, of various species and breeds, and of various health statuses across British Columbia, Canada (n = 29,236). We found that CIMD factors predicted increased risk of surrender across many shelter variables. For further understanding of differences between areas in the province, the present study also analyzed the relationship between CIMD factors and animal surrender variables in two areas of interest: Metro Vancouver (n = 3,445) and Kamloops (n = 2,665), and plotted these relationships on a geospatial scale. We found that there were some similarities across areas, such as Situational Vulnerability predicting increased odds of surrendering pit bull-labeled dogs vs. all other dog breeds. There were also differences in predictors of animal surrender variables, suggesting that provision of animal services, such as veterinary care, for vulnerable groups may be specific to location. For example, whereas Ethnocultural Composition predicted increased risk of owner surrender for multiple owner-related reasons in Metro Vancouver, these same reasons for surrender were predicted by Residential Instability in Kamloops, indicating demographic differences that affect animal shelter service use. The results of this research validate the use of geospatial analysis to understand relationships between human vulnerability and animal welfare, but also highlight the need for further interventions in marginalized populations to increase retention of animals.

Inequitable Flow of Animals in and Out of Shelters: Comparison of Community-Level Vulnerability for Owner-Surrendered and Subsequently Adopted Animals

“…As we previously found, puppies and kittens were less likely to be surrendered from areas with high EC; this result is expected as the metropolitan areas of British Columbia are largely comprised of communities with high EC (17). Indeed, previous studies in other regions have found that dog and cat ownership is more prevalent in rural communities (42,43).…”

“…The data collected for this project are similar to those utilized in our previous work ( 17 ), although the present study used data prior to 2020 to reduce the possible abnormalities that arose from the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. Whereas our previous dataset focused on incoming animals (regardless of their outcome), our present analysis used only data from animals that were surrendered by owners and subsequently adopted from the BC SPCA.…”

“…Recently, a striking report by Best Friends Animal Society found that not only did high vulnerability counties within the United States (e.g., low socioeconomic status, racialized population, persons with disabilities) have a higher rate of intake overall compared to nation-wide rates, but also that adoptions, as a proportion of intake, were lower in high social vulnerability areas compared to the national average ( 16 ). In our previous work ( 17 ), we explored the relationship between community-level vulnerability and owner surrender of animals in British Columbia. This retrospective study used data from the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (BC SPCA), which consists of 34 animal shelters and 2 foster-based locations.…”

Barriers to Care in Veterinary Services: Lessons Learned From Low-Income Pet Guardians' Experiences at Private Clinics and Hospitals During COVID-19

“…In a Canada-based study exploring the relationships between human social deprivation and animal surrender to shelters, Ly et al ( 20 ) discuss the importance of the need for free or low-cost veterinary care and desexing services in low-socioeconomic status areas. Specifically, using quantitative data comparison methods, they formed recommendations that services be made available to guardians and the animals they care for to reduce the risk of surrender due to deprivation factors.…”

Climate Change and Companion Animals: Identifying Links and Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

“…Individuals of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to have regular visits to their veterinarians and experience pet care deserts ( Fung et al 2014 ; Spencer et al 2017 ; Tran et al 2019 ). Likewise, human vulnerabilities predicted increased risk of surrendering animals for owner-related reasons and surrendering animals that were not considered healthy upon intake ( Ly et al 2021 ). Furthermore, whereas most diseases affecting companion animals are not commonly transmitted to healthy humans, immunocompromised individuals face a higher risk of developing any zoonosis ( Chuang et al 2008 ); due to the link between poverty and health, the most at-risk individuals may be the least informed about risks of zoonotic disease transmission ( Steele and Mor 2015 ).…”