Southland Anastacia, Dowling-Guyer Seana, McCobb Emily
a Center for Shelter Dogs, and the Center for Animals and Public Policy , Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University , North Grafton , MA , USA.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2019 Jan-Mar;22(1):1-12. doi: 10.1080/10888705.2018.1448275. Epub 2018 Mar 14.
This study investigated the visitor experience at one urban animal shelter. While several previous studies have examined the reasons particular nonhuman animals are chosen by adopters, few have investigated the possible reasons one would visit a shelter and leave without adopting. Over a two-month period, 158 visitors were surveyed after they were finished touring the shelter. One quarter of those exiting the shelter had adopted a pet (companion animal) compared to 11% who had been planning to adopt that day but did not. Almost 20% of survey respondents were just visiting with no plans for pet adoption either that day or in the near future. Being affectionate and friendly were important characteristics sought by potential adopters, although non-adopters reported more frequently than adopters that the animal's reaction to them was important. Shelters should work toward increasing chances for pets to connect and interact with visitors and focus on educating and retaining the interest of those who are not quite ready for a new pet.
本研究调查了一家城市动物收容所的访客体验。虽然之前有几项研究探讨了领养者选择特定非人类动物的原因，但很少有研究调查人们参观收容所却不领养的可能原因。在两个月的时间里，158名访客在参观完收容所后接受了调查。离开收容所的人中有四分之一领养了宠物（伴侣动物），而当天原本打算领养但未领养的人占11%。近20%的受访者只是去参观，当天或近期都没有领养宠物的计划。亲切友好是潜在领养者看重的重要特质，不过未领养者比领养者更频繁地表示动物对他们的反应很重要。收容所应努力增加宠物与访客建立联系和互动的机会，并专注于教育那些还未完全准备好养新宠物但有兴趣的人，以保持他们的兴趣。
