Pairing Up Shelter Dogs Can Raise Their Odds for Adoption

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 13, 2024 -- Shelter dogs do better with a buddy, a new study finds.

Dogs show fewer signs of stress and are adopted more quickly if paired up with another canine rather than housed by themselves, researchers found.

“Despite being a social species, dogs are often housed alone in shelters to reduce disease transmission and possible injury from inter-dog conflict,” said lead researcher Erica Feuerbacher, an associate professor with the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences. “But this social isolation can work against dogs’ behavioral health and adoptability.”

For the study, researchers followed 61 dogs over a week at the Humane Society of Western Montana.

Half the dogs were housed with another canine, after they were matched through a brief introduction and a compatibility test. The other half were kenneled alone.

The research team kept an eye out for common stress behaviors like lip-licking, whining and pulling back their ears. They also took daily urine samples to test for cortisol and creatinine, hormones associated with stress.

“Dogs housed in shelters can face chronic levels of stress due to noise, confined kennel spaces and limited access to social interaction,” Feuerbacher said in a university news release. “This can reduce their overall well-being, which might impact their adoptability.”

Dogs paired up with a friend were adopted, on average, four days sooner than dogs housed alone, results show. They also showed fewer stress behaviors.

The new study published June 12 in the journal PLOS One.

Feuerbacher hopes these results will lead animal shelters to match dogs with suitable roommates, as a means of showing them at their best to potential new families.

“Many potential adopters might already have a dog or would like to engage in social activities with their dog,” Feuerbacher said. “Clearly exhibiting that a dog can successfully interact with other dogs might highlight those dogs as good matches -- leading to more successful adoptions.”

Sources

  • Virginia Tech, news release, June 12, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-06-13 21:15

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords