Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Kidd, A. H., R. M. Kidd, and C. C. George.
Psychological Reports, v. 71, p. 551-557, 1992.
A. H. Kidd et al (see record 1992-34949-001) identified owners' ignorance of species-specific animal behaviors and their unrealistic expectations regarding the pet as reasons why many cats and dogs were adopted from humane societies and then rejected. The present study assessed whether better education (i.e., via their veterinarian) of prospective adopters increased retention of pets. 75 adults who had acquired new pets through a veterinarian completed a demographic questionnaire and an inventory rating the physical and emotional impact of roles pets are expected to play in their lives; 5 fathers and 26 mothers also rated the expected roles of pets in their children's lives. Follow-up phone calls after 6 mo revealed that Ss rejected significantly fewer pets and had fewer unreasonable expectations for pets' roles in their own and their children's lives than did humane society adopters from the Kidd et al study.