#USA #Overland Park #animal welfare #Hill's Pet Nutrition #Shelter Adoption

Understanding the Emotional and Financial Barriers to Pet Adoption

Hill's Pet Nutrition has made significant strides in the realm of animal welfare with its latest report, the 2025 State of Shelter Pet Adoption. This third annual glance into the factors affecting pet adoption sheds light on the emotional and financial struggles that deter potential pet owners from rescuing animals from shelters.

As communities grapple with a rising shelter capacity crisis, this insightful report identifies pivotal factors that keep animals in shelters longer than necessary. Surprisingly, while the number of animals entering shelters has seen an 11% drop since 2019, the total shelter population grew by 103,000 in 2024 alone. This troubling trend underscores the pressing need for innovative solutions aimed at converting interest in pet adoption into actual adoptions.

Key Insights from the Report

According to Dr. Chelsie Estey, U.S. chief veterinary officer at Hill's Pet Nutrition, the report reveals critical insights garnered from a survey involving 2,500 prospective pet owners. The findings will enable shelters to drive data-informed strategies for overcoming barriers to pet adoption and care. Here are some key takeaways:

1. High Readiness for Adoption: About 63% of Americans expressed a willingness to adopt from shelters when ready to welcome a new pet. However, a significant number continue to acquire pets from family or friends rather than shelters, suggesting room for improvement in public perceptions of shelter animals.

2. Importance of First-Time Adoption: Sustaining shelter support is heavily reliant on attracting first-time adopters. While 80% of prior adopters are likely to adopt again, only 56% of first-timers showed interest in adopting from shelters or rescues.

3. Barriers Driven by Financial Concerns: The financial implications of pet ownership pose considerable challenges. Veterinary care is the predominant concern across age groups, with 64% of people indicating that the cost directly impacts their decision to adopt. Other financial barriers include ongoing costs of pet ownership (48%) and high adoption fees (32%).

4. Generational Concerns Regarding Care: Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) express heightened concern regarding the physical access to veterinary care. They exhibit significant concern about preventive measures and vet office locations, indicating that their worries are slightly more pronounced when compared to older generations.

5. Familiarity Yet Low Participation in Fostering: Familiarity with fostering programs has risen, yet only 11% of Americans have actually taken part in fostering. Notably, key motivators for fostering include access to expert guidance, handling pets with prior experiences, and financial incentives.

6. Housing Issues Affect Younger Generations: Younger Americans are more often impeded by housing restrictions concerning pet ownership, facing higher rates of pet-related fees and deposits compared to older generations. This scrutiny is necessary, as nearly one-fifth of pet owners cite moving to restrictive housing as a reason for surrendering their pets.

7. Power of Post-Adoption Support: Interesting shifts have emerged concerning perceptions of post-adoption support provided by shelters. Younger individuals are more likely to agree that shelters offer valuable help with things like housing restrictions and finance-related assistance for adoption fees and veterinary care.

Beyond these data points lies Hill's commitment to maintaining the health, happiness, and adoptability of pets through various initiatives, particularly through the Hill's Food, Shelter & Love program. This initiative has provided over $300 million worth of nutrition to shelters across the U.S. since 2002.

Lastly, the report demonstrates that collaboration grounded in data-driven insights can help shelters navigate ongoing challenges they face. By increasing awareness and educational programs, it is hoped that the barriers keeping pets in shelters can be dismantled, facilitating a brighter future for both pets and owners.

For further insights and to delve into the details of the report, visit HillsShelterReport.com.