How Shelter Living Affects a Dog's Well-Being
Everyone knows shelters are stressful environments for dogs, but up until now we haven't had scientific proof.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
A team of researchers in the Netherlands recently published study results indicating that dogs who enter shelters show a significant increase in cortisol levels after six weeks (cortisol is known as the “fight or flight hormone”)
The levels were measured again at six weeks and six months post-adoption, and were found to be lower and moving back in the direction of the values seen at the time of admission to the shelter
The researchers also learned that smaller dogs in shelters generally have higher cortisol levels than larger dogs
Some good news: animal shelters across the country are stepping up to the challenge of improving the shelter environment and preparing pets for adoptions that “stick”
Pet-centric facilities, shelter enrichment, community outreach, and innovative adoption programs are just a few of the ways these organizations are meeting the needs of both homeless animals and potential adopters
I'm sure that just about everyone reading here today is aware that shelters are stressful environments for dogs. And we now have scientific proof that's the case from a team of researchers at Utrecht University in the Netherlands who evaluated the amount of cortisol in the hair of dogs before, during, and after their stay in a shelter. The 52 dogs in the study included 18 females and 34 males with an average age of 3.8 years.
Cortisol Levels Increased by a Third in Shelter Dogs
The researchers found no difference between the cortisol levels of dogs entering a shelter and a control group of 20 family dogs that were similar in breed, age, and sex. However, after six weeks in the shelter, cortisol levels in the dogs' hair increased by one-third (from 16 pg/mg to 21.8 pg/mg on average).
Measured again at six weeks and six months after adoption, the cortisol levels were lower and moving in the direction of the values seen at the time of admission to the shelter. The researchers published their findings recently in Scientific Reports.1
As with humans, the stress (aka "fight or flight") hormone cortisol accumulates in the hair of dogs (and other animals). Measuring the levels in hair gives researchers an idea of an individual's stress response and recovery over a period of weeks or months, depending on the length of hair examined. There are currently about 15 scientific studies on dogs using the technique.
Hair Reveals Cortisol Levels Over an Extended Period
As lead study author Janneke van der Laan of the Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Population Health Sciences – Division of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University explains:
"In addition to the cortisol measurements in hair, we also measured cortisol values in the dogs' urine. This gives a short-term picture while the hair measurements show the long term."2
Van der Laan and colleagues examined the hair of the shelter dogs at four points in time:
Just before shelter admission
After six weeks in the shelter
Six weeks after adoption
Six months after adoption
The researchers took daily measurements in the shelter for over a year. After adoption, the new owners were given clear instructions on how to cut their dogs' hair and send the samples to the team. According to van der Laan, the owners "were helpful and enthusiastic and were very interested in what their dog had experienced before adoption."
The research team was surprised to discover that smaller dogs generally have higher cortisol levels than larger dogs.
"We have also seen this pattern in previous studies, for example in a study on the resting pattern of shelter dogs," van der Laan said. "We don't have a clear hypothesis about why that is, but it is interesting and is an area of focus for future research."
5 Ways Animal Shelters Are Stepping Up for Pets
Another interesting point is that the Netherlands shelter the study dogs were in is considered a pioneer in improving canine welfare. For example, it has glass walls instead of bars to reduce noise pollution for the dogs.
"The fact that we measured an increased amount of cortisol even in this shelter, suggests that this will also be the case in other shelters," Van Der Laan said.
While this is certainly true, the good news is that all over the U.S., animal shelters are progressing well beyond the warehousing operations they once were. Pets today are considered family members, and a growing body of research provides evidence of the importance of animal companions and the human-animal bond.
Thankfully, more and more shelters are stepping up to do their part to take better care of their residents while also helping improve their chances of being adopted, and of making those adoptions "stick."
The Wildest magazine discusses several trends that demonstrate how animal shelters are upping their game.3
Pet-centric facilities — Shelters are remodeling old facilities and building new facilities designed to address the needs of their animal residents, such as natural light and stress reduction.
As Jenn Barg, director of operations at Colorado's Larimer Humane Society (LHS) explained in an interview with the Wildest:
"People in the sheltering world are paying attention to how to build a facility designed around the animals' needs and behaviors rather than to make it easier to clean or simply to maximize the number of animals that can be held at one time. Better-designed facilities mean less barking, less disease and the ability to provide a more enriching and calming environment for the animals."
Innovative design strategies include:4
Placing indoor plants as a barrier between rows of kennels, which reduces barking
Windows facing sidewalks to tempt passersby to come in for a closer look
Skylights for natural light and fresh air
Improved air quality and ventilation systems
Environmental enrichment — Many shelters are now focused on providing enrichment for the animals in their care with training and behavior modification programs, community interaction, educational programs for foster and adoptive families, and veterinary care specifically targeted to shelter pets.
Some shelters also provide piped-in animal-centric music, more comfortable bedding, play groups, kiddie pools, community play areas, and outdoor park-like settings for exercise.
Community outreach to help keep pets out of the shelter system
"A major goal of innovative shelters is to be the first places people turn to when they need help with their pets," explains animal behaviorist Karen London in her article for The Wildest. "Meeting that goal involves offering a variety of services to benefit all of the animals in the community, not just those in the shelter.
Changing the model of a shelter from animal control to preventing animals from entering the system in the first place is a big deal, one that includes being a resource for the people who are concerned they may need to surrender their pet, regardless of where that pet was originally obtained.
If animals need medical or behavioral assistance, the shelter may be able to help their owners solve whatever problems they're having rather than requiring them to surrender the pet."
Outside-the-box thinking to increase adoption rates — Shelters are creating programs that appeal to a broader base of volunteers. The more opportunities a local animal shelter provides to the community, the greater the response. A large population of volunteers means more services for the animals.
For example, some shelters offer dog walking and cat cuddling programs that appeal to people who can drop by the facility on their way home from work for 15 to 30 minutes of furry stress relief.
Other shelters allow volunteers to take pets to adoption events and help with dog training classes. "Running Buddy" programs are also cropping up in lots of shelters. As London writes:
"It gets the dogs out of the shelter, gives them exercise, and makes them visible to the community as they run through town wearing their "Adopt Me" vests. Many of the program's dogs have been adopted by volunteer runners, great matches forged by their shared love of running."
Sleepovers and trial adoptions — Sometimes these are one and the same, however, a "pure" sleepover means the pet goes home for the night with a volunteer. The animal gets a break from the shelter environment and is exposed to the everyday sights, sounds, and smells he or she will encounter in a new forever home.
If you've ever adopted a pet, you know the animal you meet at the shelter is often very different from the one who ultimately ends up being your new furry family member. The once very shy dog that cowered in the corner of his kennel may turn out to be the most affectionate lap dog you've ever known.
This is one of the advantages of sleepovers that are also trial adoptions. One of the best ways to really get to know if a dog or cat is a good fit for you is to spend a few days with the animal in your home. At the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA in Phoenix, Arizona, pet sleepovers/trial adoptions have become a matter of course.
The program involves having pets spend three days at home with potential adopters. The adopters fill out paperwork and are provided with food and other necessities to care for the animal. During the sleepover, the shelter calls the potential adopters to answer any questions.
After the three days are up, the adopter can decide to keep the animal or bring him or her back to the shelter. The adoption rate from this program is around 75%, and for those animals not adopted after a sleepover, the shelter staff has additional information on their behavior and personality that they can use to more closely match them to future adopters.
If you've recently adopted a homeless pet and are looking to mitigate their stress response, there are several proven remedies that can help, including:
Daily exercise and sniffaris
Ashwagandha
Holy Basil
Rhodiola
L-theanine
Healthypets Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor. Dr. Karen Becker cannot answer specific questions about your pet's medical issues or make medical recommendations for your pet without first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Your pet's medical protocol should be given by your holistic veterinarian.