Study reveals shift in Ohio towards shelter adoption over purebred purchases
Bone Voyage Dog Rescue conducted a survey of thousands of potential dog owners in Ohio to see if they prefer adopting shelter pets or buying purebred dogs.
How does this bode for so many pets ready to be adopted in local animal shelters? Will more Ohioans consider adopting instead of shopping for a new furry friend?
Shelter versus purebred pets poll
According to Annette Thompson, executive director of Bone Voyage Dog Rescue, 3,000 potential dog owners in Ohio were surveyed and the results showed more are considering adoption.
The results showed 44% of Ohioans looking for a dog intend to adopt from shelters.
It’s four percent higher than the 40% of dogs in households that were previously living in shelters, which was released by the Humane Society of the United States.
“This increasing trend towards shelter dog adoption promises substantial improvements in the welfare of homeless animals. The shift could lead to a decrease in the number of dogs in shelters, as more are adopted,” said Thompson.
If you’re interested in adoption, visit the Mahoning County Dog Warden’s adoptable dogs Facebook page. You can also see the adoptable pets on the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League website.
“This rising trend of adoption not only promises a brighter future for shelter dogs but also signifies a broader cultural shift towards responsible pet ownership and empathy towards animal welfare,” said Thompson.
Message to Mahoning County dog owners
When bringing a shelter dog home for the first time, there are several things to keep in mind:
Canine parvovirus and respiratory diseases like kennel cough have infiltrated the Mahoning County Dog Warden’s shelter this summer.
The employees shared a message with dog owners and potential adopters about keeping dogs healthy in and out of the shelter.
According to the warden’s Facebook account, reports of parvo have come in from the north, south, east and west sides of Youngstown, and from Campbell.
“We lost dogs to this horrible virus and we have been on high alert every day since,” the dog warden posted on Facebook.
The warden’s post speculates parvo is spreading among dogs on the streets and in homes.
“Even for dogs with homes… if they roam the neighborhood and have not received adequate veterinary preventive care…they are at risk,” the post said. “Vaccines are not a guarantee that a disease will not be transmitted. They do give these dogs a fighting chance at survival, though. Parvo is deadly; even with treatment it can be fatal.”
4 tips for dog owners to keep them safe
Here are the tips from the dog warden’s office:
Put identification on your dogs to get them home safely when accidents happen and they get loose
Don’t let dogs run loose off of your property
Spay and neuter pets to slow down overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats
Keep vaccines up to date to keep them healthy
“It is a horrible virus. Please keep your dogs safe. Keep them up to date on boosters. Parvo can be anywhere and once transmitted the dog has to fight very hard to survive,” the post said.
For preventative veterinary care including spaying and neutering, pet owners can call Alleycat Spay and Neuter Clinic in East Liverpool at (330) 892-8985.
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