YourSAY™ 2012.4 - Canada's Thought Leaders Ponder Animal Surrender and Abandonment

The fourth public opinion poll of 2012 is reported. This report summarizes the YourSAY™ survey Powered by PetLynx™ that fielded March 29th to April 5th, 2012. Surrender and abandonment of a pet is a prevalent issue in communities across Canada. This survey measured what thought leaders of the Companion Animal industry think about surrender and abandonment (sometimes also called relinquishment), the underlying issues that force a pet family to surrender and abandon their pet, and the ways in which they think the industry should address the issue of surrender and abandonment.

Sixty-seven respondents participated in the PetLynx YourSAY™ forum for 2012.4 featuring opinions about animal surrender and abandonment. Participants included thought leaders representing all sectors of the industry in Canada. 

Highlights from YourSAY™ 2012.4:

• Survey participants felt that pets that are surrendered or abandoned most commonly come from online resources (e.g., Kijiji, Craig’s List, etc.) (28%). Other common sources of pets that are surrendered or abandoned included unwanted offspring (24%) and pet stores (13%).
• Overall 46 respondents (70%) felt that a pet without training was a top factor that contributed  surrender or abandonment, 34 respondents (52%) thought pet family relocation/moving was another top factor and 29 respondents (44%) felt pet family personal issues were an important factor.
• A majority of participants (55%) felt that the cost of pet maintenance was a top priority for the Canadian Companion Animal Industry to address to deter surrender or abandonment of a dog.  Other important topics for the industry to address included landlords not allowing pets (42%), the pet family having no time for pets (35%) and pet illness(es) (33%).
• Almost half of participants (49%) felt that house soiling was a top priority for the Canadian Companion Animal Industry to address to deter surrender or abandonment of a cat. Other important areas for the industry to address included allergies in the family (42%), the cost of pet maintenance (39%) and landlord not allowing pet (37%).
• Under half of participants (46%) felt that mandatory spay/neuter was the best way to address the problem of surrender or abandonment. Following closely were industry coordinated public education (40%) and pet identification or microchipping (36%).
• Participants were asked to name the most important elements of an industry-wide coordinated initiative to eliminate abandonment and reduce surrender.  Top elements included importance of education/promotion of responsible pet ownership (39%), spay/neuter (26%), legislative/municipality issues (14%), industry collaboration/consistent industry messaging (12%).

Demographics of YourSAY™ 2012.4:

• Gender: 57% Female, 43% Male
• Age: 18% 21-35 years old, 34% 36-50 years old, 46% 51 and older
• Region: 45% Central, 31% Prairie, 13% Pacific, 10% Atlantic
• Pets: 81% Dog owner, 51% Cat owner
• Industry: 39% Animal Welfare, 24% Animal Services, 19% Animal Health and Wellness, 13% Animal Control and Enforcement
• Executive Level: 24% C-Level Executive, 34% Senior Management, 18% Middle Management, 7% Individual Contributor, 16% Other

YourSAY™ public opinion polls are owned and Powered by PetLynx™. Copies of the complete survey report are available for a nominal cost. 
Contact Sheena.Neel@petlynxmail.com if you wish to procure a copy.

Jason Coe on Pet Relinquishment and Abandonment

Across Canada, large populations of pets are surrendered or abandoned  because of a variety of animal and human-related factors. Communities need to address this important societal issue.  Why does it happen?  What can we do to eliminate this problem? What are the roles of the breeder, the retailer, the shelter, the vet, the pet family to create sustainable human-animal relationships?

Jason B Coe DVM, PhD 

At the four Regional Summits across Canada – April 18, 19, 23 and 24, 2012 – Dr. Jason Coe, of the University of Guelph, will create discussion on pet surrender and abandonment, but leading retailers, breeders, shelter operators and veterinarians are required to think outside the box and make this conversation valuable.

Dr. Coe's goal of the Regional Summits Session I - Industry Facts and Evidence, is to position participants to make an impact in their community and region – while assembling the strategic and tactical ideas that can make a difference across the nation.

Summit Registration   Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the industry

There may be Iams or Petsecure $100 vouchers still available, contact Judi Cannon if you need assistance 1.705.749.6607 or judi.cannon@petlynxmail.com

Last Chance - 2012.4 YourSAY™ Survey - Surrender and Abandonment

Surrender and abandonment of a pet is a prevalent issue in communities across Canada. This survey measures what thought leaders of the Companion Animal industry think about surrender and abandonment (sometimes also called relinquishment), the underlying issues that force a pet family to surrender and abandon their pet, and the ways in which they think the industry should address the issue of surrender and abandonment.

We'd like to collect your personal opinions as a thought leader in the Canadian industry to illuminate future discussions about the issues of surrender and abandonment. This YourSAY™ survey will close at midnight.

Click the link to answer the survey:

2012.4 YourSAY Survey 

Your identity is protected and cannot be associated with the opinions you express. Summary results of this survey will be reported to industry on Thursday, 12 April 2012.
 

Thank you,

PetLynx Corporation
Market Services & Intelligence

The future is collaborative! 

2012.4 YourSAY™ Survey - Surrender and Abandonment

Surrender and abandonment of a pet is a prevalent issue in communities across Canada. This survey measures what thought leaders of the Companion Animal industry think about surrender and abandonment (sometimes also called relinquishment), the underlying issues that force a pet family to surrender and abandon their pet, and the ways in which they think the industry should address the issue of surrender and abandonment.

We'd like to collect your personal opinions as a thought leader in the Canadian industry to illuminate future discussions about the issues of surrender and abandonment. 

This YourSAY™ survey will close on Thursday, 5 April 2012 at midnight.  You may start and stop your participation to serve your convenience until you push the 'finished' button or until the survey closes. Click the link to answer the survey:

2012.4 YourSAY Survey

Your identity is protected and cannot be associated with the opinions you express. Summary results of this survey will be reported to industry on Thursday, 12 April 2012.

The 2012.3 YourSAY survey was reported on Thursday, 15 March 2012. See what leaders had to say about the National Companion Animal Coalition.

2012.3 YourSAY Report


Thank you,

PetLynx Corporation

Market Services & Intelligence

The future is collaborative! 

Introducing the Regional Summit Speakers - Jason Coe

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Jason Coe as one of the speakers at the 6th Annual Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies Canadian tour in Halifax, Toronto, Red Deer and Vancouver in April 2012. 

Dr. Coe will be providing insight into the research on surrender and abandonment during Session I - Industry Facts & Evidence at all four regions of the Summit Series.

Background

Dr. Jason Coe
University of Guelph
Dr. Jason Coe graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2001. Upon graduation Jason spent a few years in mixed-animal practice before returning to the Ontario Veterinary College to pursue a PhD in the area of veterinary communication. In 2008, Jason joined the Ontario Veterinary College as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Medicine where he has established an active research program in veterinary communications as well as the human-animal bond. In 2010, Jason was the recipient of the Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada Chair in Communications, established to support research into the roots of pet surrender and abandonment. 

Stay tuned this week for more Regional Summit speaker announcements!

Regional Summit Synopsis

The Regional Summits gather industry leaders (unit and branch managers) from the four primary stakeholder groups of the pet industry: animal welfare, animal control & legislative enforcement, animal health & wellness and animal services. These one-day events deliver content from the previous National Alumni Summit, promote industry collaboration in each region, provide continuing education for industry management and expand the number of collaborators working toward common goals and urban animal strategies in the companion animal industry across Canada.