Foster Care and Familiar friends Reduce Stress in Shelter Dogs
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By virginia Tech
A week away from the shelter kennel can substantially reduce stress in dogs-and reuniting them with a familiar friend upon their return makes the transition even smoother, according to a new study.
Millions of dogs enter U.S.animal shelters annually, and while many find loving homes, the experience can be profoundly stressful. The constant noise, unpredictable routines, and isolation take a considerable toll on their well-being.
Researchers at Virginia techs School of Animal Sciences have pinpointed a surprisingly simple and effective way to ease that strain: a temporary stay in a foster home.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Arizona State University and animal shelters in Arizona and Virginia, revealed that a week in a foster home substantially lowered cortisol levels-a key hormone associated with stress. Dogs wearing activity trackers also demonstrated increased resting time.
The research also showed that dogs returning to the shelter benefited from being housed with a familiar canine companion, experiencing a more relaxed re-entry.
“Interestingly, the foster home, dogs weren’t more stressed in the shelter after foster care than they were before it,” Gunter explains.
“That’s reassuring,because that’s often a concern. Instead, foster care provides a valuable opportunity for dogs to rest and recharge in a home setting.”
Why Familiar Kennelmates Matter
The study also investigated weather returning to the shelter and cohabitating with a familiar companion aided dogs in coping more effectively.
Prior to the foster stay, dogs housed with a compatible kennelmate exhibited no important differences in stress or activity levels. However, after the week away, those reunited with a familiar dog rested more and displayed less high-intensity activity than dogs housed alone or with a new companion.
“For dogs, established relationships offer stability-like having a best friend during a stressful situation,” says Erica Feuerbacher, associate professor and co-principal investigator on the study. “Being kenneled with a known companion helped them settle more quickly and rest more easily.”
Feuerbacher’s prior research has demonstrated that cohousing familiar dogs not only reduces stress but can also increase adoption rates.
Improving Shelter Dog Welfare and Adoption
These findings build upon years of work by Gunter and Feuerbacher dedicated to enhancing the lives and adoptability of shelter dogs.
An earlier study encompassing 51 shelters and nearly 28,000 dogs revealed that even short outings-lasting as little as one to four hours-increased a dog’s likelihood of adoption by five times. Dogs who spent one or two nights in foster care were over 14 times more likely to find permanent homes.
“Those adoptions weren’t typically by the foster families themselves,” Gunter notes. “Rather, these dogs were visible in the community, walking in neighborhoods, or featured in homes on social media. That increased visibility makes a real difference.”
collectively, these studies suggest that foster stays and cohousing can significantly improve a dog’s experience in the shelter and accelerate the adoption process.
Gunter emphasizes that these are practical, low-cost strategies that shelters can implement immediatly.
“We consistently find that when dogs leave the kennel and enter a home, they thrive,” Gunter says. “These are the types of interventions shelters can utilize to improve the lives of dogs in their care.”
The full study appears in PeerJ.
Source: Virginia Tech
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