title: Effect of Adopters' Lifestyles and Animal-Care Knowledge on Their Expectations Prior to Companion-Animal Guardianship.
abstract: Human expectations can greatly affect the human-companion animal relationship, sometimes putting nonhuman animals at risk for relinquishment. At 20 animal shelters in Southern Ontario, Canada, potential adopters (N = 234) completed a questionnaire regarding their lifestyle, companion animal-care knowledge, and preadoption expectations of their adopted companion animals. Linear mixed models were used to assess the associations of adopters' lifestyles and companion animal-care knowledge with their expectations for animal behavior, the human-companion animal relationship, and the effort required in companion-animal guardianship. Dog adopters had higher expectations than cat adopters for their companion animal's behavior (p < .001), the human-companion animal relationship (p < .001), and the effort required in companion-animal guardianship (p < .001). Adopters' human relationship statuses were also associated with expectations for the human-companion animal relationship (p = .002). As adopters' companion animal-care knowledge increased, so did their expectations for the effort required in companion-animal guardianship (p < .001). An understanding of adopters' expectations prior to adoption will help animal shelters better match, educate, and prepare adopters for their lives with companion animals.
authors: a Department of Population Medicine , Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: O'Connor
authors: a Department of Population Medicine , Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors: Jason B
authors: JB
authors: Coe
authors: a Department of Population Medicine , Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors: Lee
authors: L
authors: Niel
authors: a Department of Population Medicine , Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors: Andria
authors: A
authors: Jones-Bitton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057805:Pets; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adoption; companion animal; expectation; owner