Replication Data for: Not all animal surrender is the same: Comparisons of sought support and ultimate outcomes in surrendering owners

Animal shelters aim to divert intake by encouraging pet retention in homes (e.g., support services) or through alternative methods of surrender (e.g., self-rehoming); however, it remains unclear what factors contribute to decisions to seek pet support services, as well as select different methods to surrender a pet. Using a sample of 452 U.S. and Canadian public members who rehomed a dog or cat within the past five years, the present study identified groups of pet owners who share similar patterns of responses to surrender circumstances using latent class analysis. The model revealed three heterogeneous classes of surrendering pet owners distinguished largely by the reason for surrender and the length of ownership. Comparisons revealed differences across classes regarding the proportion of respondents, the pathways used to surrender, and the concerns reported by respondents during surrender. Qualitative analysis revealed that respondents wanted or sought a variety of different support services, including behavioural support, part-time care, and veterinary care. Future research should consider the heterogeneity in surrender decision-making when addressing issues of intake diversion from animal shelters.