American Journal of Applied Psychology
ISSN (Print): 2333-472X ISSN (Online): 2333-4738 Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/ajap Editor-in-chief: Apply for this position
Open Access
Journal Browser
Go
American Journal of Applied Psychology. 2015, 3(2), 27-33
DOI: 10.12691/ajap-3-2-1
Open AccessArticle

Farewell to Fido: Pet Owners’ Commitment and Relinquishment of Companion Animals

Brian Collisson1,

1Department of Psychology, Marian University, Indianapolis, USA

Pub. Date: April 06, 2015

Cite this paper:
Brian Collisson. Farewell to Fido: Pet Owners’ Commitment and Relinquishment of Companion Animals. American Journal of Applied Psychology. 2015; 3(2):27-33. doi: 10.12691/ajap-3-2-1

Abstract

The current research predicts commitment and relinquishment of companion animals by applying psychological theory on close relationships. In this novel application to pet owners in general (Study 1) and dog owners specifically (Study 2), commitment and relinquishment intentions were predicted to be a function of owner satisfaction, investment size, and quality of alternative animals. In both studies, pet owners reported their commitment to their animal, satisfaction, investment size, quality of alternative animals, as well as relinquishment intentions. Study 1 revealed that commitment was related to satisfaction and investment size, but not quality of alternative animals. Study 2 revealed that dog owners’ commitment and relinquishment intentions were related to satisfaction, investment size, and quality of alternatives. Implications for animal welfare are discussed.

Keywords:
commitment companion animals relinquishment satisfaction investment size quality of alternatives

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]  Blouin, D. D. (2013). Are dogs children, companions, or just animals? Understanding variations in people’s orientations toward animals. Anthrozoos, 26(2), 279-294.
 
[2]  Branch, S. E., Wilson, K. M., & Agnew, C. R. (2013).Committed to Oprah, Homer, or House: Using the investment model to understand parasocial relationships. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2(2), 96-109.
 
[3]  Buhrmester, M., Kwang, T., & Gosling, S. D. (2011). Amazon’s mechanical turk: A new source of inexpensive, yet high-quality data? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-5.
 
[4]  Crawford, E. K., Worsham, N. L., & Swineheart, E. R. (2006). Benefits derived from company on animals and the use of the term “attachment.” Anthrozoos, 19(2), 98-112.
 
[5]  Fishbein, M. &Ajzen, I. (1975).Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
 
[6]  Fritz, C. L., Farver, T. B., Hart, L. A., &Kass, P.H. (1996).Companion animals and the psychological health of Alzheimer patients’ caregiving. Psychological Reports, 78(2), 467-481.
 
[7]  Humane Society of the United States. (2013). Common questions about animal shelters. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://www.humanesociety.org/animal_community/resources/qa/common_questions_on_shelters.htm.
 
[8]  Kwan, J. Y. & Bain, M.J. (2013).Owner attachment and problem behaviors related to relinquishment and training techniques of dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16(2).
 
[9]  Le, B. & Agnew, C. R. (2003). Commitment and its theorized determinants: A meta-analysis of the investment model. Personal Relationships, 10, 37-57.
 
[10]  New, J. C., Salman, M. D., King, M., Scarlett, J. M., Kass, P. H., & Hutchison, J. M. (2000). Characteristics of shelter-relinquished animals and their owners compared with animals and their owners in U.S. pet-owning households. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 3(3), 179-201.
 
[11]  New, J. C., Salman, M. D., Scarlett, J. M., Kass, P. H., Vaughn, J. A., Scherr, S., &Kelch, W. J. (1999).Moving: Characteristics of dogs and cats and those relinquishing them to 12 U.S. animal shelters.Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2(2), 83-96.
 
[12]  Pagani, C., Robustelli, F., &Ascione, F. R. (2010).Investigating animal abuse: Some theoretical and methodological issues.Anthrozoös, 23(3), 259-276.
 
[13]  Rusbult, C. E., & Farrell, D. (1983). A longitudinal test of the investment model: The impact of job satisfaction, job commitment, and turnover of variations in rewards, costs, and alternatives, and investments. Journal of Applied Psychology, 68, 429-438.
 
[14]  Rusbult, C. E. (1980). Commitment and satisfaction in romantic associations: A test of the investment model. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 172-186.
 
[15]  Rusbult, C. E. (1983). A longitudinal test of the investment model: The development (and deterioration) of satisfaction and commitment in heterosexual involvements. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 101-117.
 
[16]  Rusbult, C. E., Martz, J. M., & Agnew, C. R. (1998).The investment model scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size. Personal Relationships, 5, 357-391.
 
[17]  Salman, M. D., New, J. G., Scarlett, J. M., Kass, P. H., Ruch-Gallie, R., &Hetts, S. (1998). Human and animal factors related to the relinquishment of dogs and cats in 12 selected animal shelters in the United States. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1(3), 207-226.
 
[18]  Scarlett, J. M., Salman, M. D., New, J. G., &Kass, P. H. (1999). Reasons for relinquishment of companion animals in U.S. animal shelters: Selected health and personal issues. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2(1), 41-57.
 
[19]  Shore, E. R. (2005).Returning a recently adopted companion animal: Adopters’ reasons for and reactions to the failed adoption experience.Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 8(3), 187-198.
 
[20]  Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds I: The relational significance of companion animals. Family Processes, 48(4), 462-480.
 
[21]  Weng, H. Y. & Hart, L. A. (2012). Impact of the economic recession on companion animal relinquishment, adoption, and euthanasia: A Chicago animal shelter’s experience. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 15, 80-90.
 
[22]  Wilson, C. C., Netting, F. E., Turner, D. C., & Olsen, C. H. (2013). Companion animals in obituaries: An exploratory study. Anthrozoos, 26(2), 227-236.
 
[23]  Wood, L. J., Giles-Corti, B., Bulsara, M. K., & Bosch, D. A. (2007). More than a furry companion: The ripple effect of companion animals on neighborhood interactions and sense of community. Society and Animals, 15, 43-56.