the shelter and the community.
5.3.2 Veterinary Care
Inability to access veterinary care has been documented as a common reason for companion animal relinquishment, with as many as 28% of surrenderers citing cost, in conjunction with medical issues, as the reasons for relinquishment in one study (Dolan et al. 2015). Safety net programs that address barriers to veterinary care have the potential to reduce relinquishment, thus facilitating behavioral well‐being through stability in ownership and preservation of the human‐animal bond.
5.3.2.1 Spay‐Neuter Services
Surgical sterilization services for owned animals have become commonly established programs to reduce pet overpopulation by avoiding unwanted litters and preventing behavioral and medical concerns associated with an intact reproductive status. Effective spay‐neuter programs can successfully increase the prevalence of altered animals in the community (Dolan et al. 2017; Frank and Carlisle‐Frank 2007). A corresponding decrease in shelter relinquishment in communities with accessible spay‐neuter programs has also been documented (Scarlett and Johnston 2012; White et al. 2010), though this reduction was only consistently identified for cats and not dogs. Research findings also support the reach of non‐profit spay‐neuter programs to animals that would not otherwise receive veterinary care (White et al. 2018) and show that client race and ethnicity are not barriers to program utilization (Decker Sparks et al. 2018; Poss and Bader 2008; Schurer et al. 2015).
Accessible spay‐neuter services benefit the pet by enhancing animal health, avoiding unwanted litters, and preventing nuisance behaviors (American Veterinary Medical Association n.d.). When successful, these programs also positively impact the community through reduction of relinquishment, nuisance behaviors such as vocalization or urine marking, and, potentially, the incidence of serious dog bites, for which intact dogs are overrepresented (Patronek et al. 2013). Effective spay‐neuter outreach also reduces pet overpopulation, a clear benefit for communities experiencing a significant homeless pet overpopulation. Even for communities with unmet adopter demand for puppies and kittens, effective spay‐neuter outreach is an important population‐level strategy to reduce disparity in the access to these services. Accessible spay‐neuter services also allow for thoughtful consideration of where new pets in the community are obtained, such as through animal transport (thus addressing pet overpopulation in other communities) or through responsible breeders. With careful program design and outreach, these programs can be an opportunity for collaboration with the local veterinary community. Practitioners can refer clients unable to afford full‐cost sterilization or may participate in providing low‐cost or free sterilization services.
While spay‐neuter programs can have significant overall impact, they are resource intensive to establish and maintain. This is particularly true given that successful programs are accompanied by community outreach to build trust and interest in the program. Effective programs also address the issue that low‐cost or even free spay‐neuter programs may still include insurmountable barriers for clients who lack transportation or cannot take time off work to bring the pet for a surgical appointment. For these reasons, implementation of spay‐neuter safety net programs should be carefully preceded by an analysis of the existing community landscape to assess the community need and to effectively target the desired population.
5.3.2.2 Access to Basic Veterinary Care
Spay‐neuter programs typically include the provision of preventive care, such as vaccines and parasite treatment. Some may also administer basic treatment for minor conditions. However, medical concerns leading to relinquishment may not be fully addressed through these programs. There is growing interest in ensuring access to veterinary care that extends beyond wellness care to other medical concerns. Models for accessible veterinary care programs include academic programs at veterinary schools; programs run by animal welfare organizations; collaborative One Health programs with human health services; for‐profit, low‐cost veterinary services; and accessible services provided by private practitioners. The limited existing data support the efficacy of these programs at reaching the target demographic and providing accessible care (Ehnert et al. 2015; McCobb et al. 2018). Like spay‐neuter programs, successful accessible veterinary care programs must carefully consider the community’s needs and existing programs. While the impact and benefits of these programs mirror those of accessible spay‐neuter services in potential significance, accessible veterinary care programs are resource intensive and may not be of strategic value for every organization and community. In addition, these programs may be perceived as a threat to the financial well‐being of existing veterinary clinics. To mitigate this concern, successfully implemented accessible veterinary care programs include outreach to the local veterinary community in the early stages of planning and development (McCobb et al. 2018). Collaborative efforts such as vouchers for care at local clinics may be a less resource intensive and potentially better received alternative for many organizations.
5.3.2.3 Return‐to‐Field Programs
The behavioral health of free‐roaming cats is often best served by avoiding sheltering and placement in a home, particularly for poorly socialized and feral cats. While more detail on these programs can be found in Chapter 7, their inclusion as a safety net program type is important to note.
5.3.3 Behavioral Care
All safety net programs address the emotional health of the animal by mitigating the risk of relinquishment and sheltering. However, an important subset of safety net programs specifically targets the behavioral health of the companion animal in the home. Behavioral reasons for rehoming have been reported in up to 40% of relinquished dogs and 28% of relinquished cats (Salman et al. 2000), though behavior concerns as the reason for relinquishment were reported by fewer than 20% of respondents in a more recent study (Weiss et al. 2014). While behavior as a reason for relinquishment is complicated and multifactorial, behavioral interventions remain an important tool to prevent surrender. Behavioral safety net programs are broadly categorized in this section by type, but significant overlap can exist between these types based on program structure and individual circumstances.
5.3.3.1 Behavior Information Resources
One of the simplest strategies for behavioral support is to provide informational links or handouts on common behavior topics. In the aforementioned survey of sheltering organizations, while only 37% had safety net resources available on their website for pet owners, 80% of those organizations reported that the advice was focused on pet behavior (Russo et al. 2021). In addition to having freely accessible resources on its website, an organization can proactively share relevant information with adopters, with potential surrenderers, or at community outreach events. There are limited published data to support the impact of providing this information to prevent relinquishment, though given the wide availability of freely accessible material to use, the resource investment to collate this information for the organization’s purpose is minimal.
One advantage to this provision of resources is that these resources can cover a broad range of concerns across species. Many behavioral interventions, such as training classes, focus on canine behavioral health, but resources can include information on feline behavior as well as on small mammal, avian, and large animal behavioral health. The benefit of providing such information is likely to be greatest if resources focus on common behavior problems that can be resolved by simple intervention strategies, making individualized counseling unnecessary. In one study, advice provided to puppy owners on puppy raising at a single veterinary visit had lasting impact in reducing undesirable behaviors (Gazzano et al. 2008). Effective advice provided on just one occasion may benefit the pet and client.
Sharing of information
