Yet another study showing free adoptions are good for pets

This time from Maddie’s Fund;

Do free adoptions increase the risk of poor care and abandonment? Results from a recent study conducted by researchers at Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida say no.

A survey of all 1,928 pet adopters from the fee-waived 2011 Maddie’s® Matchmaker Adoptathon compared caregiver characteristics and pet lifestyles between adopters who still had their pets 6 – 12 months after the event, and those who did not.

A total of 57% (1,099) of adopters completed the survey, and a vast majority of those reported that the adopted pets were still in the home (93% of the dogs and 95% of the cats). Most pets lived predominantly indoors, slept in the family bed, and had been to a veterinarian – and a resounding 94% of all respondents declared a strong or very strong attachment to the pet, whether the pet was retained or not.

The researchers concluded that successful adoptions do not require payment of a fee, and free adoption promotions may increase adoptions without compromising the quality of the animal’s life.

Still not using ‘free’? Why not?

See also: The astounding power of free pet adoption events

Should a cat die – rather be adopted free?