Housing insecurity has been found to be the leading reason for people leaving their pets at animal shelters.
A La Trobe University study found 9000 cats and dogs were handed over the shelters each year.
Housing insecurity was the most common reason for relinquishment for low and high socioeconomic groups.
For lower socioeconomic groups financial constraints were also a common reason while higher income household were more likely to give up their pets due to the healthcare needs of owners.
The study, Association of Socioeconomic Status and Reasons for Companion Animal Relinquishment, was published in the journal Animals.
It reviewed data from five Australian shelters in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia between July 2018 and June 2023.
Study lead, La Trobe University PhD candidate Sonya McDowall, said understanding the reasons people gave up pets could help reduce the financial and ethical problems arising from too many dogs and cats in shelters.
“These findings highlight the critical role of socioeconomic factors in understanding why people relinquish their companion animals, which can inform targeted interventions to support companion animal welfare across different socioeconomic backgrounds,” Ms McDowall said.
The research paper said that, by addressing the root causes of animals being relinquished, such as housing insecurity and financial constraints, stakeholders could work towards sustainable solutions.
