There are many reasons why pets are surrendered to animal shelters, including financial difficulties, living circumstances, and behavior issues like resource guarding. But experts are trying to spread the word that professional behaviorists can provide a solution, helping to prevent surrenders and keep more pets in their homes with the people they know and love.
pet behaviorists can help prevent owner surrenders at shelters, Gladskikh Tatiana Shutterstock
Some animal shelters, such as the Maryland SPCA, use behaviorists to help resolve behavior problems in dogs and cats. When issues are identified while a pet is in the shelter, the experts work with the animals to resolve those issues before they’re adopted. But, even if an animal is already in a home, these same pros can help.
Preventing Surrenders by Helping Pet Parents
In addition to training pets who need it while in the shelter, some facilities also provide valuable online resources that pet parents can access when they need assistance with addressing behavior problems at home, and this can help pets stay in their homes by preventing unnecessary surrenders.
Both dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters because of behavior issues. While dogs might be surrendered for reasons like inappropriate play or being too jumpy, when it comes to cats, one of the common reasons for surrendering them is litter box problems, or eliminating outside of the litter box. This can be due to stress or medical problems, as well as problems in the cat’s environment or improper maintenance of the litter box area. In this case, pet behaviorists collect important information about the living situation and the cat’s behaviors to determine the cause and come up with a solution.
If Your Pet Exhibits Behavior Problems, Reach Out to Experts
Oftentimes, behavior issues can be fixed with the right strategy, and pet behaviorists have the knowledge and skills to evaluate a problem and come up with tactics to meet an animal’s needs in a way that resolves the issue, thereby keeping them out of the stressful shelter environment.
By educating pet parents, providing guidance, and resolving issues, behaviorists and shelter workers can help prevent more animal surrenders, and this is great news for humans and their companions, as they can stay together rather than go through the heartache of being separated.
So, if you’re experiencing problems with your dog or cat and thinking about giving them up, consider first reaching out to local animal shelters who have the resources and experts available to assist you. You might be surprised by how quickly and easily issues can be resolved, and you and your pet will be happier for it.
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