DiGangi Brian A, Crawford P Cynda, Levy Julie K
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, USA.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2006;9(2):143-63. doi: 10.1207/s15327604jaws0902_4.
Adoption of companion animals retired from biomedical research projects can provide an alternative, humane method for their disposition. For more than a decade, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has allowed investigators to arrange for the adoption of nonhuman animals used in their research. This report directed a survey to caregivers (owners) of 458 cats adopted over a 6-year period. The survey determined (a) retention rate of adopted cats in their original homes, (b) characteristics of adopters and cats, (c) adopters' initial expectations and subsequent experiences with the cats, (d) quality of the humananimal bond, and (e) adopters' perceptions of the adoption process. Completed surveys totaled 275 (60.0% response rate) with a median follow-up interval of 38 months. Of cats surveyed, 91.3% were still in their original homes, 91.0% had seen a veterinarian following adoption, and 80.4% were highly valued family members. The procedures followed to place cats in appropriate homes satisfied the vast majority of adopters surveyed. These results suggest that adoption into private homes is a viable alternative for cats who have completed research studies.
领养从生物医学研究项目中退役的伴侣动物，可以为它们的安置提供一种替代的、人道的方法。十多年来，佛罗里达大学兽医学院允许研究人员安排领养他们研究中使用的非人类动物。本报告针对在6年期间领养的458只猫的照料者（主人）进行了一项调查。该调查确定了：（a）领养猫在其原家庭中的留存率；（b）领养者和猫的特征；（c）领养者对猫的初始期望及后续体验；（d）人与动物之间的情感纽带质量；以及（e）领养者对领养过程的看法。共完成275份调查问卷（回复率为60.0%），中位随访间隔为38个月。在接受调查的猫中，91.3%仍在其原家庭中，91.0%在领养后看过兽医，80.4%是深受重视的家庭成员。将猫安置到合适家庭所遵循的程序让绝大多数接受调查的领养者感到满意。这些结果表明，对于完成研究的猫来说，被领养到私人家庭是一种可行的选择。
