In the past, the sight of purebred dogs like Dachshunds, Boston Terriers, and French Bulldogs was common in American neighborhoods. However, recently a notable shift in consumers’ preferences has steered away from these purebreds despite their previous popularity.
For some, the exorbitant cost of purebred dogs, which can reach up to $10,000 for breeds such as Rottweilers and Chow Chows, is a considerable deterrent. For others, the concern is over health issues commonly associated with purebreds. English Bulldogs and Pugs, for instance, are often plagued with respiratory problems. Also, many individuals also feel a moral obligation to provide homes to shelter dogs.
Bone Voyage recently conducted a study revealing a significant shift towards adopting shelter dogs over purchasing purebreds from breeders. A survey of 3,000 potential dog owners in North Carolina revealed that an impressive 45% of them expressed an intent to adopt from shelters, marking a 5% swing towards possible shelter dog ownership when contrasted with older data from the Humane Society of the United States, which indicated that 40% of pet dogs in households were previously shelter dogs.
“This increasing trend towards shelter dog adoption promises substantial improvements in the welfare of homeless animals. The shift could lead to a decrease in the number of dogs in shelters, as more are adopted,” says Annette Thompson, Executive Director of Bone Voyage Dog Rescue, when commenting on the study.
A state-by-state analysis of the survey data revealed the strongest preference for shelter dog adoption is in Nebraska, with a remarkable 81% expressing a preference for shelter dogs over purebred breeds.
In a complementary study, Bone Voyage Dog Rescue used Google Search trends to understand the public’s interest in shelter dogs over the past year. The insights from Google mirrored the survey data, reinforcing the shift towards shelter dog ownership.
Among the top 25 states most interested in ‘shelter dog adoption’, 22 demonstrated a marked shift towards this preference, as per the survey data. Wyoming, for instance, had the highest proportion of shelter dog searches, reflecting its second-place ranking in the survey. Similarly, North Carolina ranked 8th in Google searches for shelter dogs, aligning with its position in the survey for those most likely to adopt a shelter dog.
The rising trend of shelter dog adoption holds considerable potential for improving animal welfare in the US. This shift could have multi-faceted benefits, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the lives of the individual dogs adopted.
