Trends in Animal Shelter Management, Adoption, and Animal Death in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The issue of free-roaming and shelter animals is important to the Taiwanese public. Public animal shelters in Taiwan used to play an essential role in managing the number of free-roaming animals; this practice was banned in 2017. This current study investigated the trends in animal intakes and outcomes in public animal shelters and the workload of shelter veterinarians in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020. We found a decrease in the intakes and outcomes of shelter animals over time, although that trend reversed in 2018 with a slight increase in intakes. In replacement of euthanasia, adopting and returning animals to where they were captured after being neutered became the main reasons for animal outcomes. Counties with a higher human fertility rate were shown to have a higher adoption rate. Alarmingly, shelter veterinarians’ workload has increased from 2018 to 2020. Many veterinarians take care of more than 100 incoming and outgoing animals monthly, higher than what is regulated by the organisation laws based on the Animal Protection Act Article 14.3 in Taiwan. In this paper, we found decreased animal intakes and outcomes, shifted reasons for animal outcomes, and an increased veterinary workload in recent years. This information provides the foundation for future research on methods of improving shelter management and work conditions for shelter staff. ABSTRACT: This current study investigated the trends in public animal shelter intakes and outcomes and the workload of shelter veterinarians in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020 and reports spatial, temporal, and socioeconomic factors associated with these trends. Information about the public animal shelter management of dogs and cats from all counties of Taiwan between 2012 and 2020 was acquired from the National Animal Shelter Management System of the Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan in Taiwan. Ridge regression followed by multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the risk factors for animal intakes, outcomes, the number of adopted animals, and the estimated veterinary workload in public animal shelters. The intakes and outcomes of shelter animals significantly decreased over time. Euthanasia, which was performed in the shelters, was positively associated with shelter animal intakes and outcomes as it resulted in animal outcomes and thus facilitated the flow of animals in the shelters. Adoption and trap–neuter–vaccination–return, in replacement of euthanasia, became the main reasons for animal outcomes, and with every increase in human fertility rate, the monthly number of adopted animals over the number of animals entering shelters increased by 1.10% (95% CI: 0.21 to 2.00). The veterinary workload in the shelters of two counties exceeded what is regulated by law (i.e., 100 animals per veterinarian) in 2018 and increased to six counties in 2020. This current study reported important trends in the management of public animal shelters in Taiwan, the increasing workload of shelter veterinarians, and factors associated with these trends. It built the epidemiological foundation for future research on methods of improving shelter management and work conditions for shelter staff.