ASPCA Relinquishment Survey – Interviewer’s Copy

[Objective: To help animal welfare agencies identifywhat resources those who are relinquishing dogs or cats due to lack of some resource need to keep their pets. The survey questions and results are intended to inform the development or improvement ofexisting retention focused programs.]

[After you have identified the person’s intent is to relinquish/surrender their pet you may begin the survey. This survey is designed to be conducted as an in person interview]

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Survey Introduction and Consent

We are aimingto understand more about the reasons leading to the difficult decision to relinquish a pet. We think that there might be some things we could do to help keep pets and their people together. Right now, we don’t offer any services, [or we only offer certain servicesor limited services, or whatever language is specific to your organization] but we would like to ask you a few questions to help us figure out what we could do to help in the future. Would that be ok?

General Survey Information

  • Date and Time
  • Interviewer Name
  • Unique ID or Case Number[something that allows you to identify the person, their animal, and their situation]
  • Pet’s Name
  • Species

Survey Questions

[Objective: To help determine why folks are relinquishing/surrendering their pets. With an open ended question like #1, it is important to write their response word for word and to get the full story. Often times a follow-up question (#2) can be asked to confirm the interviewers understanding of the story, grouping the reasons will also ease understanding of the patterns of relinquishment reasons.]

  1. Tell me about why you are bringing (pet’s name) here today.
  2. It sounds to me from what you just described that [interviewer selects up to 3from the list below] were the main reason(s) you need to leave your pet here today, does that sound right?

a)Personal or family health troubles

b)Could not afford the costs involved in having a pet

c)Divorce or separation from a spouse

d)A new person who joined the household did not like or get along with the pet

e)A death in the family

f)Arrival of a new baby in the household

g)Lack of time to care for or spend with the pet

h)You or another member of the household was allergic to the pet

i)Moving

j)Landlord did not allow pets

k)Didn’t have enough space for the pet

l)Pet had problematic behavior like destruction of your home or furnishings or was too loud

m)Pet displayed aggressive behavior toward people or other pets

n)Pet grew larger than expected

o)Pet had health problems you were unable to handle

p)Too many pets

q)Could not afford citations issued by animal control

r)Other, please describe

[Objective: To help determine if and what could have been done to keep the pet in the home. This is one of the most important questions you will ask; ideally it should help you determine a person’s need.]

  1. Here is a list of programs or services that a local organization could provide. Please tell me if the availability of that program or service would have changed your decision to give up (pet’s name). I will read the list and you can tell me yes or no for each. [Alternatively, you can show them the list.] If yes, place a check in the box.

a)Free or low cost vaccines

b)Free or low cost spay/neuter

c)Free or low cost veterinary care (NOT including spay/neuter or vaccines, i.e. for illness or injuries)

d)Humane Euthanasia

e)Free or low cost pet food

f)Free or low cost training to help with behavior problems

g)Free or low cost temporary pet care or boarding

h)Free or low cost dog house

i)Assistance with fence installation/repair

j)Assistance and guidance on finding pet friendly housing

k)Assistance in paying for pet deposit or fees in a rented home or apartment

l)Assistance in paying for pet license fees

m)Other (or anything else), please describe

FOR SHELTER USE ONLY - Animal Disposition

  • Was the animal surrendered? Yes or No?
  • If yes, what was the animal’s final disposition?
  • Still in Shelter
  • Adopted
  • Transferred Out
  • Euthanasia
  • Other, please describe
  • For those organizations that offer services, were any services rendered? If yes, what were they?

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