It is also important to keep in mind that length of stay is not always ended by adoption. Euthanasia is considered the end of an animal’s shelter stay as well.

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Adopter Preferences:

• puppies and young dogs
• lap dogs and ratters
• giant breeds
• non-aggressive
• willing to approach humans
• owner-surrendered dogs
• coat colour doesn’t matter much

 

Based on these findings, it can be assumed that certain dogs are less likely to be adopted, and may stay in traditional shelters long enough to be euthanized.

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Which Dogs Have Long Lengths of Stay?

• fighting and sporting breeds have long stays
  

  Photo Credit: maplegirlie on Flickr

• guard breeds have lengths of stay at least twice those of giant breeds
• 16% of shelters will not accept pit bulls
• 60% of shelters surveyed will accept pit bulls but will not rehome them (it is assumed that these dogs are euthanized upon intake)
• stray dogs have less adoption success than owner-surrendered dogs, and have the shortest average length of stay in traditional shelters, as they tend to be euthanized
• aggression is a trait that leads to the designation of “unadoptable”

 

Breed prejudice leads to the assumption that certain dogs are aggressive. Dogs of these breeds will often be euthanized because no one considered their temperament, only their appearance.