Adoption of Shelter Dogs in a Brazilian Community: Assessing the Caretaker Profile

dogs assessed length of ownership, proportion of male and female dogs adopted, and owners ’ characteristics. It addressed breeding, neutering, vaccination, and veterinary care. It used no testing to provide a good “match ” between dog and future owner. Of adopted dogs, 58 % were male. Only 36 % of owners were located. Mean ownership length was 14.8 months (95 % confidence interval = 12.4 to 17.2 months), estimated through a survival analysis method. Of adopted dogs, 40.9 % lived with their owners; 34.9 % had died (some had lived on the streets); 15.0 % were donated; 4.3 % ran away