ArticleScientific reports2021
Characterizing unsuccessful animal adoptions: age and breed predict the likelihood of return, reasons for return and post-return outcomes.
Article in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed.
- Behavioural and Noise-Level Differences Associated with Response-Independent Treat Delivery in Shelter Dogs.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Municipal Outsourcing and Animal Welfare Outcomes in Contracted Dog Shelters: A 10-Year Retrospective Policy Evaluation in Korea.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- The Influence of Cat Coat Colour, Eye Shape, and Pupil Size on Ratings of Adoptability Based on a Standardised Online Image, in an Australian Sample.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Associations Between Adoption Discounts, Length-of-Stay, and Adoption Rates of Dogs in an Open-Admission Municipal Animal Shelter in NSW, Australia.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Trends in Intake, Length of Stay and Outcome Data in a Portuguese Animal Shelter Between 2018 and 2024.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- From bond to guardianship: a serial mediation model explaining how the human-pet bond protects against pet relinquishment.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- People and Pets in the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Cost-of-Living Crisis: Identifying Trends in the Intake, Adoption and Return of Companion Animals During Times of Uncertainty.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- New Strategies of Canine Post-Adoption Support: Methods for a Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Prevalent and Severe Conditions That Compromise the Welfare of Shelter Dogs: Opinions from the Taiwanese Experts.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- A qualitative exploration of owner experiences following dog adoption.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2025Article
- Investigating the Reasons behind Companion Animal Relinquishment: A Systematic Content Analysis of Shelter Records for Cats and Dogs, 2018-2023.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Canine Euthanasia's Trend Analysis during Thirty Years (1990-2020) in Italy: A Veterinary Hospital as Case Study.Veterinary sciences · 2024Article
- Coming Home, Staying Home: Adopters' Stories about Transitioning Their New Dog into Their Home and Family.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Owner expectations and surprises of dog ownership experiences in the United Kingdom.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2024Article
- The Influence of Brief Outing and Temporary Fostering Programs on Shelter Dog Welfare.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- When and Why Cats Are Returned to Shelters.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Companion animal adoption and relinquishment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Households with children at greatest risk of relinquishing a cat or dog.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2023Article
- Shelter dog behavior after adoption: Using the C-BARQ to track dog behavior changes through the first six months after adoption.PloS one · 2023Article
- A Qualitative Exploration of Challenges and Opportunities for Dog Welfare in Ireland Post COVID-19, as Perceived by Dog Welfare Organisations.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2022Article
- The Effect of Baby Schema in Cats on Length of Stay in an Irish Animal Shelter.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
A considerable number of adopted animals are returned to animal shelters post-adoption which can be stressful for both the animal and the owner. In this retrospective analysis of 23,932 animal records from a US shelter, we identified animal characteristics associated with the likelihood of return, key return reasons, and outcomes post-return for dogs and cats. Binary logistic regression models were used to describe the likelihood of return, return reason and outcome based on intake age, intake type, sex, breed and return frequency. Behavioral issues and incompatibility with existing pets were the most common return reasons. Age and breed group (dogs only) predicted the likelihood of return, return reason and post-adoption return outcome. Adult dogs had the greatest odds of post-adoption return (OR 3.40, 95% CI 2.88-4.01) and post-return euthanasia (OR 3.94, 95% CI 2.04-7.59). Toy and terrier breeds were 65% and 35% less likely to be returned compared with herding breeds. Pit bull-type breeds were more likely to be returned multiple times (X
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.