Data collection
The Index is based on data from over 200 global and local sources, and is supplemented by new quantitative research on people’s attitudes, country by country.
We build this data hub for animal welfare organizations, policymakers, pet professionals, academics, researchers and other interested parties to better understand where to direct their action in order to drive change.
The Index reflects the state of pet homelessness at a specific moment in time when the research was conducted.
Our three area of focus
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Methodology
We partnered with eight animal welfare experts from leading organizations around the globe to guide the development of the Index. Together, we built the Index, gathering data across 200+ data sources supplemented with quantitative data on consumer attitudes, ensuring a holistic view on pet homelessness and covering three key focus areas influencing the issue of pet homelessness.
How we do it
Title 1
1
Modelling begins with data collection across a wide range of geographies.
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Title 2
The three themes emerging from the data
Prevent unwanted pets
Large populations of stray pets which can breed at a rapid rate are a huge part of the problem. This, coupled with irresponsible breeding practices, e.g. those that do not pay enough attention to health, temperament, positive early socialization, or to ensuring a good fit with the pet owner, can result in increasing numbers of homeless pets and groups of pets that are difficult to provide sustained care to or match with a home. Our data looks at this significant and critical piece of the challenge.
Reproduction Control
If pre-roaming or owned pets are able to reproduce unchecked, this can exacerbate the problem by rapidly adding to the population of pets without a home.
Routes to pet ownership
Where people get their pets reveals important insights about the pathways to pet ownership and the proportion of people making a direct impact on homeless pet numbers through the adoption of shelter pets or strays.
Attitude towards street & stray pets
Stray pets interact with humans or remain hidden. Encouraging people to learn about ways to interact with different types of pets can help pets who would benefit from human care get access to what they need.
Ensure sustained care
Helping to provide more homeless pets with responsible loving homes, or the sustained human care they need in the community, is a foundational step in tackling pet homelessness. Achieving it requires an understanding of the key barriers to acquiring or adopting a pet, or accessing veterinary care, as well as facilitating pathways to ownership, and provision of care for community animals, whose home may not be a conventional house but still need access to sustained care. Shelters may provide care for cats and dogs but resources are often strained and, if pets are not adopted to new homes, demand may exceed capacity.
Pet acquisition
Insights into attitudes toward future pet ownership can help highlight the opportunities for pets in need to find responsible, loving homes. This is a foundational step in tackling pet homelessness.
Barriers to pet ownership
Understanding the barriers to owning or caring for a pet can help to facilitate interventions to help people to become responsible pet owners.
Perception of shelter pets
Understanding the perception of homeless cats and dogs can help in getting pets out of shelters and into loving homes.
Keeping pets in homes
Keeping pets in homes is vital for both pet and owner to benefit from a longstanding bond. Pets are at risk of becoming homeless through being relinquished or abandoned if the pet ownership experience is difficult, or a pet owner can’t access the advice and support they need. Pet owning practices which easily allow pets to stray or become lost can also result in owned pets becoming homeless. Our data looks at issues such as the cost of caring for a pet, common pet care practices and the incidence of lost pets.
Lost pets
Pets are lost more frequently than many may realize, and if they are not reunited with their owner this can lead to an increase in the homeless population. Keeping pets from straying or getting them reunited quickly is a beneficial objective for pets and the people who care for them.
Rehoming pets
Understanding the potential reasons for people rehoming their pet can guide the efforts of organizations and businesses in supporting pet owners to continue to care for their cat or dog.
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