Demographic changes in UK rescue centre dog population between 2014 and 2018

Carter, AJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6216-2377 and Martin, JH ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7560-7611, 2020. Demographic changes in UK rescue centre dog population between 2014 and 2018. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. ISSN 1088-8705

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Abstract

Rescue centers remain a common means of rehoming a dog. There is a paucity of research into the composition of rescue center populations and its potential reflection of increased popularity of brachycephalic breeds. The study investigated changes in rescue center demographics from 2015 to 2018, compared to the wider dog population. Dogs on 16 rehoming centers’ websites were recorded weekly from June 2015 for 8 weeks and replicated from June 2018. Data were collected on 1793 dogs across the centers. Over 50% of which were classified as purebred in both years. Over 80% of the dogs were categorized into 24 breeds or breed crosses. Dogs categorized as brachycephalic increased from 24 (2.76%) in 2015 to 48 (5.19%) in 2018. Subadult dogs (3–4 years) were most prevalent in both years. While sex, breed type, and age of the rehoming center population has remained relatively stable, breeds are changing. Whilst low, brachycephalic numbers doubled in 3 years, mirroring their rising popularity within the UK, impacting on rehoming centers and prospective new owners with additional costs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome surgery.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Creators:	Carter, A.J. and Martin, J.H.
Publisher:	Routledge
Date:	5 November 2020
ISSN:	1088-8705
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1080/10888705.2020.1839755 DOI 1386543 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Jeremy Silvester
Date Added:	11 Nov 2020 10:43
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2021 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/41607

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