Dogs on the Move: Factors Impacting Animal Shelter and Rescue Organizations' Decisions to Accept Dogs from Distant Locations

Multiple species of canine Rhipicephalus complex detected in Canada

Multiple species of brown dog ticks have been described in the United States and the Caribbean: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto (s.s.), also referred to as temperate lineage; R. linnaei (=tropical lineage); and R. rutilus (=southeastern Europe lineage) However, Rhipicephalus spp. are rarely recovered from dogs in Canada. To identify canine Rhipicephalus spp. in Canada and determine the influence of travel history on infestation, ticks morphologically identified as brown dog ticks (n = 93) collected from dogs (n = 13) in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec, Canada were submitted with information regarding each dog's geographic location and travel history. Nucleic acid was extracted from available individual ticks (n = 86) and PCR was used to amplify sequences of a 12S rRNA mitochondrial gene fragment. Sequences were compared to published reference sequences of known species and a phylogenetic tree constructed. Twenty-three ticks (26.7%) consistent with R. linnaei were identified on seven dogs, including dogs from British Columbia and Ontario, with a median infestation intensity of 2 ticks/dog (mean = 3.3 ticks/dog). Sixty-one ticks (70.9%) consistent with R. sanguineus s.s. were found on two dogs from Québec and Ontario (median = 30.5 ticks/dog; mean = 30.5 ticks/dog). One dog from Ontario was infested with R. rutilus (n = 2) (2.3%). Species could not be determined for ticks from three dogs from Ontario and Québec. Most infested dogs (10/13; 76.9%) had a recent (< 1 month) international travel history. These data confirm that multiple species of canine Rhipicephalus are occasionally found in Canada and suggest introduction following travel is likely responsible for these infestations. Further analysis will allow for greater understanding of the range and diversity of canine Rhipicephalus spp. in North America and may reveal risk factors for infestation.

Analysis of exotic pathogens found in a large group of imported dogs following an animal welfare investigation

BACKGROUND

Increased dog relocation can cause dissemination of pathogen and vector populations, and this is being recognised in countries across Northern Europe, including the UK. Data regarding the prevalence of exotic infections in dogs entering the UK would be beneficial to veterinarians to help assess pets entering the UK from abroad and to help calculate the risk of establishment of novel pathogens. This study reports the findings from a group of imported dogs that was seized as part of a Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)-led animal welfare investigation and subsequently blood tested for exotic pathogens.

METHODS

As part of the RSPCA investigation, 151 dogs were removed from the site. Blood tests were performed for Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis and Leishmania infantum by PCR, Brucella canis by antibody serology and Dirofilaria immitis by blood antigen. In addition to pathogen screening, a serology titre for rabies was measured for each dog. A clinical examination was performed by a veterinary surgeon, and clinical signs were recorded.

RESULTS

Overall, 24% (32/133) of the dogs tested positive for an infection with one or more exotic pathogens. Two dogs were positive for Br. canis antibodies and had no clinical signs indicative of infection. Leishmania was identified in 10.5% (14/133) of dogs, and all but two of these were implanted with microchips of Romanian origin. H. canis was identified in 9.6% (10/104) of dogs, all of whom had a Romanian microchip. D. immitis was identified in 4.1% (5/121) of dogs, B. canis in 2.3% (3/129) of dogs and E. canis in only 1.5% (2/131) of dogs tested. Only four dogs were found to have co-infections. No significant association was found between the pathogens detected and presenting clinical signs.

LIMITATIONS

This was a group of rescued dogs that were tested for a range of pathogens. They were not randomly selected and as such do not represent the true prevalence of these pathogens in dogs imported into the UK.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a range of exotic pathogens entering the UK, including Br. canis, and demonstrates the importance of screening imported dogs. The emphasis on early recognition of exotic pathogens in imported dogs has relied on screening based on relevant clinical signs and the country of origin. While these factors are useful, this study demonstrated no significant association between presenting clinical signs and the pathogens carried.

Human social conditions predict the risk of exposure to zoonotic parasites in companion animals in East and Southeast Asia

Background

A recent dramatic surge in pet ownership has been observed across metropolitan areas in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of information on the risk associated with pet ownership for the transmission of parasites on a large scale in Asia, despite this continent giving rise to the largest burden of zoonotic infections worldwide.

Methods

We explored the nature and extent of zoonotic internal (endo-) and external (ecto-) parasites and arthropod-borne pathogens in 2381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia using reliable diagnostic tests and then undertook extensive statistical analyses to define predictors of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.

Results

The estimated ORs for overall parasite infections are 1.35 [95% CIs 1.07;1.71] in young animals and 4.10 [1.50;11.2] in the animal group older than 15 years as compared with adult animals, 0.61 [0.48;0.77] in neutered animals as compared to unneutered animals, 0.36 [0.26;0.50] in animals living in urban areas as compared with rural areas, 1.14 [1.08;1.21] for each 1 °C increase of annual mean temperature which varies from 12.0 to 28.0 °C, and 0.86 [0.78;0.95] for each year of life expectancy which varies from 70.9 to 83.3 years.

Conclusions

Here we highlight the influence of human life expectancy and the neutering status of the animals, which reflect increased living standards through access to education and human and veterinary health care, to be both strongly associated with exposure to zoonotic parasites. An integrated approach of local and international authorities to implement and manage educational programs will be crucial for the control of zoonotic infections of companion animals in Asia.

Parasites live on or inside animals or humans and can cause disease. Companion animals (pets) with parasites present a potential risk to the health of their owners, as certain kinds of parasites (known as zoonotic parasites) can affect both animal and human health. Here, we investigated whether human social conditions are associated with zoonotic parasite infections in companion animals in East and Southeast Asia. We found that higher human life expectancy and neutering of the companion animals were associated with fewer zoonotic parasite infections in the animals. These findings highlight the need for an enhanced commitment of local authorities to establish prevention campaigns, including education programs, against zoonotic pathogens. These measures will play a crucial role in alleviating the impact of these diseases in companion animals and humans in Asia.

Colella, Wongnak et al. test pet dogs and cats from metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia for zoonotic parasites. The authors identify factors associated with potential exposure to zoonotic parasites, including animal characteristics and human living conditions.

Trends in Intake and Outcome Data From U.S. Animal Shelters From 2016 to 2020

In this retrospective, exploratory study, intake and outcome data were compiled from 1,373 U.S. animal shelters for which such data were reported consistently across a five-year study period (2016–2020). Linear regression analysis was used to examine the five-year trends and the impacts of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) on the overall trends in intake and outcomes in U.S. animal shelters. The results of the analysis reveal that total intake and euthanasia for both dogs and cats significantly decreased over the study period. The adoption, return-to-owner, return-to-field, and transfer (for cats) categories as a percentage of intake all showed significant increases. Live release rates as a function of total intakes and total outcomes for both dogs and cats showed significant increases over the study period. The findings from this study address a critical gap in the field by summarizing emerging trends at the national level in how cats and dogs are being served in U.S. animal shelters.

Emergency Fostering of Dogs From Animal Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Shelter Practices, Foster Caregiver Engagement, and Dog Outcomes

Each year, millions of dogs enter thousands of animal shelters across the United States. Life in the shelter can be stressful, and one type of intervention that improves dogs' experience is human interaction, particularly stays in foster homes. Prior research has demonstrated that fostering can reduce dogs' cortisol and increase their resting activity. Despite these benefits, little is understood about the utilization of foster caregiving in animal shelters, and even less so during a crisis. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization deemed the coronavirus outbreak a worldwide pandemic, and subsequently a nationwide emergency was declared in the United States. Nearly all states issued stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus. During this time, media outlets reported increased interest in the adoption and fostering of shelter pets. This study explores canine foster caregiving at 19 US animal shelters during the first 4 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In our investigation, we found that shelters' utilization of foster caregiving increased from March to April 2020 but returned to initial pandemic levels by June 2020. Slightly less than two-fifths of foster caregivers were community members with no prior relationship with the shelter, and these caregivers were over four times more likely to adopt their fostered dogs than those with a pre-existing relationship to the shelter. Individuals fostering with the intention to adopt, in fact, adopted their dogs in nearly three-quarters of those instances. With regards to shelters' available resources, we found that very low-resource shelters relied more heavily on individuals with prior relationships to provide foster caregiving while very high-resource shelters more often recruited new community members. We also found that our lowest resourced shelters transferred more dogs out of their facilities while more resourced shelters rehomed dogs directly to adopters. To our knowledge, these findings represent the first in-depth reporting about dog fostering in US animal shelters and, more specifically, foster caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, they provide greater understanding of how monetary and human resources were utilized to affect the care and ultimately, the outcomes of shelter dogs during this time.

Temporal trends in intake category data for animal shelter and rescue organizations in Colorado from 2008 to 2018

OBJECTIVE

To investigate trends in animal shelter and rescue organization intake for dogs and cats in Colorado from 2008 to 2018.

SAMPLE

482 animal shelters and rescue organizations that reported annual intake data to the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture for 1,086,630 dogs and 702,333 cats.

PROCEDURES

Total intake, intake for each of 5 Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act categories (stray, owner surrender, intrastate transfer, interstate transfer, or other), and community-based intake (total intake after exclusion of transfers) of dogs and cats were assessed in total and for each organization type (shelter or rescue organization). The number taken in per year, number taken in/1,000 capita (human residents)/y, and number in each intake category as a percentage of total intake for the same species per year were analyzed with linear regression models.

RESULTS

Trend lines indicated that total dog intake increased over the study period, but there was no change when these data were adjusted for the human population. Cat intake decreased over time according to both of these measures. Total community-based intake decreased, whereas total intake by interstate transfer from other organizations increased for both species during the study period.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Increased transfer of dogs and cats across state lines into regions with low community-based shelter intake suggested that regional and national animal disease trends could potentially impact disease profiles for recipient areas. Findings supported efforts toward collecting animal shelter and rescue organization intake and outcome data across larger systems.

Shelter and rescue programmes associated with higher live release and lower return rates for dogs

Typically, animal shelters and rescues are judged on their live release rates. This research explores the relative impact that shelter traits and programmes have on positive outcomes for dogs. Using a survey of 370 animal shelters and rescues across the US, it concludes that eschewing the use of breed labels for all dogs that do not appear to be pure-bred, having a robust foster programme, and using a matching programme are correlated with higher live release and lower return rates. Resources are not wholly determinative of success — it is the programmes shelters and rescues implement, not simply their human and financial resources — that are associated with positive outcomes.

Characterizing Pet Acquisition and Retention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, Americans began experiencing numerous lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some reports have suggested that pet acquisition and ownership increased during this period, and some have suggested shelters and rescues will be overwhelmed once pandemic-related restrictions are lifted and lifestyles shift yet again. In May 2021, the ASPCA hired the global market research company Ipsos to conduct a general population survey that would provide a more comprehensive picture of pet ownership and acquisition during the pandemic. Although pet owners care for a number of species, the term pet owner in this study specifically refers to those who had dogs and/or cats. One goal of the survey was to determine whether data from a sample of adults residing in the United States would corroborate findings from national shelter databases indicating that animals were not being surrendered to shelters in large numbers. Furthermore, this survey gauged individuals' concerns related to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, and analyses examined factors associated with pet owners indicating they were considering rehoming an animal within the next 3 months. The data showed that pet ownership did not increase during the pandemic and that pets may have been rehomed in greater numbers than occurs during more stable times. Importantly, rehomed animals were placed with friends, family members, and neighbors more frequently than they were relinquished to animal shelters and rescues. Findings associated with those who rehomed an animal during the pandemic, or were considering rehoming, suggest that animal welfare organizations have opportunities to increase pet retention by providing resources regarding pet-friendly housing and affordable veterinary options and by helping pet owners strategize how to incorporate their animals into their post-pandemic lifestyles.

Incidence and Predictors of Canine Parvovirus Diagnoses in Puppies Relocated for Adoption

Simple Summary

Long-distance companion animal relocation programs move animals from shelters in communities with a large homeless pet population to those where there is a high demand for adoption. Basic principles of infection control and preventive care minimize the risk of unintended disease spread during program operation. This study evaluated the occurrence of canine parvovirus (CPV) diagnoses in puppies after participation in a large-scale ground transport program and the impact of shelter operational practices on such diagnoses. The rate of CPV reported in transported puppies was low, and was not different between puppies that received one or more than one vaccination prior to transport.

Abstract

Animal relocation programs seek to balance the animal population and resources between source and destination communities to promote positive outcomes, though little objective evidence has been reported on their physical and behavioral implications. The objective of the current report is to describe the incidence and predictors of canine parvovirus (CPV) diagnoses in 8- to 19-week-old puppies reported by destination shelters participating in a large scale, long-distance, structured animal relocation program. The incidence of post-transport CPV diagnoses in the study population of 4088 puppies was 2.3%. The number of pre-transport vaccinations, length of stay at the source shelter, and time between pre-transport vaccination and transport was not associated with the expected difference in count of post-transport CPV diagnoses (p > 0.05), and was lower in those 13–17 weeks of age (IRR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.02–0.34, p = 0.001), 18–19 weeks of age (IRR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.02–0.80, p = 0.029), transferred in to the source shelter (IRR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.10–0.96, p = 0.043), and transported in the summer season (IRR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01–0.53, p = 0.010). When basic biosecurity practices and vaccination protocols were in place, post-transport CPV cases in puppies were few, suggesting that the timing of transport should take into account factors other than the number or timing of pre-transport vaccinations.

Parasites and vector-borne diseases disseminated by rehomed dogs

The Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum is a working group of leading international experts who meet annually to evaluate current scientific findings and future trends concerning the distribution, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention of vector-borne infections of dogs and cats. At the 14th Symposium of the CVBD World Forum in Trieste, Italy (March 25-28, 2019), we identified the need to (i) bring attention to the potential spread of parasites and vectors with relocated dogs, and (ii) provide advice to the veterinary profession regarding the importance of surveillance and treatment for parasites and vector-borne infections when rehoming dogs. This letter shares a consensus statement from the CVBD World Forum as well as a summary of the problem faced, including the role of veterinary professionals in parasite surveillance, causal issues, and the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing the problem. To limit opportunities for dissemination of parasites and vectors, whenever possible, underlying problems creating the need for dog rehoming should be addressed. However, when it is necessary to rehome dogs, this should ideally take place in the country and national region of origin. When geographically distant relocation occurs, veterinary professionals have a vital role to play in public education, vigilance for detection of exotic vectors and infections, and alerting the medical community to the risk(s) for pathogen spread. With appropriate veterinary intervention, dog welfare needs can be met without inadvertently allowing global spread of parasites and their vectors.

Dog importation and changes in canine intestinal nematode prevalence in Colorado, USA, 2013-2017

BACKGROUND

Animal rescue and animal welfare organizations are relocating thousands of dogs per year following natural disasters and in attempts to provide greater adoption opportunities. Many dogs are sourced from the southeastern USA, which historically has a high prevalence rate for many parasites and parasitic diseases. The Colorado Department of Agriculture Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) requires animal shelters and animal welfare organizations to report annually a variety of statistics including the numbers of dogs imported into Colorado from out of state. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) provides data nationally, down to the state and county level, on a variety of common parasitic and vector borne diseases. These data make it possible to track changes in parasite prevalence over several years.

METHODS

Test results for canine roundworm, hookworm and whipworm were collected from the CAPC maps for 2013-2017. Dog importation data for 2014-2017 was collected from PACFA reports. For evaluation of the statistical significance of prevalence changes when comparing 2013 to 2017, 2 × 2 contingency tables were constructed with both positive and negative test results for each year and the data assessed using Chi-square tests to determine if the 2017 prevalence was significantly different than the 2013 prevalence for roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.

RESULTS

Significant increases in intestinal nematode prevalence occurred in Colorado from 2013 to 2017. The prevalence of canine roundworm rose 35.60%, the prevalence of canine hookworm rose 137.33% and the prevalence of canine whipworm rose 63.68%. From 2014 to 2017, over 114,000 dogs were transported into Colorado from out-of-state, by more than 130 animal shelters and rescue organizations. Three of the larger organizations reported that the majority of their dogs were obtained from New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Texas and Oklahoma have historically much higher parasite prevalence than Colorado.

CONCLUSIONS

Veterinarians in areas with historically low parasite prevalence where dogs from high parasite prevalence areas are arriving for adoption may need to reevaluate their recommendations regarding fecal examination and deworming frequencies as historic levels of intestinal parasite infection may no longer be accurate assessments of future infection risks.

Detection of gastrointestinal parasitism at recreational canine sites in the USA: the DOGPARCS study

BACKGROUND

The rapid growth in off-leash dog parks provides opportunity for canine socialization activities but carries risk of exposure to intestinal parasites. This study assessed the prevalence of these infections in dogs visiting off-leash dog parks.

METHODS

Fresh defecations were collected from dogs visiting parks in 30 metropolitan areas across the USA. Samples were analyzed by coproantigen immunoassay (CAI) (Fecal Dx® and Giardia Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.) and zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation (CF). Owners responded to a questionnaire on their dog's signalment and use of heartworm/intestinal parasite control medications (HWCM).

RESULTS

Samples were examined from 3006 dogs, 87.9% aged at least 12 months, visiting 288 parks. At least one intestinal parasite was detected in 622 (20.7%) samples, nematodes in 263 (8.8%), with hookworms, whipworms and ascarids in 7.1, 1.9 and 0.6% of samples, respectively. A sample positive for one or more intestinal parasites was found in 245 (85.1%) parks, with nematodes found in 143 (49.7%). Combined, CAI and CF detected 78.4% more intestinal nematode infections than CF alone. Hookworm and whipworm infections were detected in all age groups, but ascarids were only detected in dogs less than 4 years-old. Approximately 42% of dogs aged less than 1 year were positive for nematodes or Giardia. Based on owner reports, HWCM was current for 68.8% of dogs, dogs previously diagnosed with intestinal parasitism were more likely to be receiving a HWCM than those without such history, and a significantly lower (P = 0.0003) proportion of dogs receiving a HWCM were positive for intestinal nematodes compared with those not on such medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal parasites, the most common of which were Giardia, Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis, were found in 20% of dogs and 85% of dog parks across the USA. Enhanced detection of canine intestinal parasitism was achieved by combining CF and CAI. Canine intestinal parasites are common across the USA and dog health can be improved by regular testing of fecal samples and routine administration of medications effective against the most common infections.

Prevalence of heartworm in relocated, local and outreach clinic dogs: A Canadian sheltering perspective

This study reports heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) prevalence in dogs tested by an animal shelter located in a low-prevalence region of Ontario, Canada. From 2015-2018, 4567 unique dogs were tested. The prevalence of heartworm was 3.9 %, with sub-prevalence of 0.3 % (2/662) for dogs surrendered within the Greater Toronto Area (both dogs were originally imported from the US); 6.6 % (130/1,981) for dogs relocated from beyond the Greater Toronto Area; 0% (0/1,668) for dogs tested at the shelter's public veterinary services clinic and 18.4 % (47/256) for owned dogs tested at outreach clinics at a First Nations community in south-eastern Ontario. More than half (54.7 %) of the heartworm-positive dogs originated from Canada. Most heartworm-positive dogs from the US (72/80; 90 %) were transferred from Texas and Georgia. Ninety-three heartworm-positive Canadian dogs were from Ontario, 4 from Manitoba and 1 from Quebec. Most (83/98, 84.7 %) were from four First Nations communities. The prevalence in homeless dogs from one First Nations community in south-western Ontario was 36.5 % (31/85). For 140 shelter dogs with at least one positive test result, there was 91 % concordance between shelter and reference laboratory antigen tests and poor agreement between antigen tests and microfilarial tests (approximately 50 %). Results of historical tests and post-relocation antigen tests were discordant in 28.2 % (shelter point-of-care tests) and 36.2 % (reference laboratory tests) of cases. This was most commonly due to negative historical results followed by positive results after relocation. Microfilarial filtration tests were positive for 77.1 % antigen-positive dogs from First Nations communities, compared with 37.1 % of dogs from other sources. Microfilarial counts were significantly higher for dogs from First Nations communities. This study demonstrated endemic and hyperendemic foci of heartworm within Canada, which were presumed to be associated with limited access to veterinary care. The results support recommendations to retest previously negative animals after relocation.

Impact of the Timing of Spay-Neuter Related to Transport on Disease Rates in Relocated Dogs

Companion animal relocation programs are an important method to address geographic and resource disparities in pet overpopulation through transport from areas with high homeless pet populations to areas with high adopter demand. Despite mitigation by following best practices, a potential risk of animal relocation is increased disease incidence related to infectious disease spread and the effects of stress during transport. Surgical sterilization may compound disease risk due to the impact of surgical stress on disease susceptibility and the potential for disease exposure from other patients. Our study aimed to provide information about disease and surgical complication incidence as relates to the timing of surgical sterilization in relocated dogs. A population of 431 dogs relocated to a shelter in Washington State was monitored for disease while at the destination shelter and immediately post-adoption. No increased disease incidence was identified for dogs altered within two weeks of transport at the destination shelter compared with those altered within two weeks prior to transport at the source shelter. Because of disparities addressed by relocation programs, surgical sterilization of relocated companion animals is typically best performed at the destination shelter. Our study indicates that disease incidence is not increased by spay-neuter at the destination shelter.

Dog importation and changes in heartworm prevalence in Colorado 2013-2017

Background

Animal welfare organizations, in order to increase dog adoptions and reduce euthanasia of homeless dogs, are transporting large numbers of dogs from state-to-state. Only approximately 1/3 of animal welfare organizations reportedly test for heartworm infection, treat, or provide heartworm prevention prior to transporting dogs. The reported prevalence of heartworms in dogs in animal shelters or rescued following natural disasters ranges between 14.6–48.8%. This analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between dog importation and heartworm prevalence in dogs in Colorado.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) interactive heartworm prevalence maps and the Colorado Department of Agriculture Pet Animal Care Facilities Program (PACFA) in order to analyze the relationship between dog importation and the changes in prevalence of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in Colorado from 2013 to 2017.

Results

The prevalence of heartworms in Colorado dogs has increased 67.5% between 2013–2017. From 2014 to 2017, more than 114,000 dogs were imported into Colorado by over 130 animal shelters and rescue organizations, which could represent approximately 9.5% of the total estimated 2017 Colorado dog population of nearly 1.2 million dogs. Three large Colorado-based organizations responded to requests for details regarding the originating states from which they received dogs. The majority of these dogs were apparently shipped to Colorado from states with higher heartworm prevalence. New Mexico represented the source of the greatest number of relocated dogs, accounting for just over 30%. Nearly half (49%) of the dogs relocated by these three organizations came from either Texas or Oklahoma.

Conclusions

Animal welfare organizations and veterinarians should increase the testing and prevention of heartworm infections in dogs both prior to, and following, transportation from areas with high heartworm prevalence. Repeated testing is recommended due to the 6-month pre-patent-period associated with D. immitis. Veterinarians and pet owners should increase vigilance with heartworm testing and prevention, even in areas with historically low heartworm prevalence. Movement of dogs from highly endemic areas may increase the risks of local transmission.

Dog Transport and Infectious Disease Risk: An International Perspective

International canine transport programs are gaining popularity, moving dogs from limited-resourced facilities to those with an increased capacity to provide better animal care and outcomes. For many animals, transport is a lifesaving measure, but is not without risk. The long-distance movement of dogs can facilitate disease spread, particularly when exporting agencies are located in rabies-endemic areas and lack staff trained in infectious disease control. This article explains current trends in international dog transport and potential risks and benefits for participating agencies, and provides recommendations to mitigate the risk of unintentional infectious disease introduction and transmission.

Brucellosis in Dogs and Public Health Risk

Brucella canis infects dogs and humans. In dogs, it can cause reproductive failure; in humans, it can cause fever, chills, malaise, peripheral lymphadenomegaly, and splenomegaly. B. canis infection in dogs is underrecognized. After evaluating serologic data, transmission patterns, and regulations in the context of brucellosis in dogs as an underrecognized zoonosis, we concluded that brucellosis in dogs remains endemic to many parts of the world and will probably remain a threat to human health and animal welfare unless stronger intervention measures are implemented. A first step for limiting disease spread would be implementation of mandatory testing of dogs before interstate or international movement.

A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs

Previous research in animal shelters has determined the breeds of dogs living in shelters by their visual appearance; however the genetic breed testing of such dogs is seldom conducted, and few studies have compared the breed labels assigned by shelter staff to the results of this testing. In the largest sampling of shelter dogs’ breed identities to-date, 459 dogs at Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA (AAWL) in Phoenix, Arizona, and 460 dogs at San Diego Humane Society & SPCA (SDHS) in San Diego, California, were genetically tested using a commercially available product to determine their breed heritage. In our sample, genetic analyses identified 125 distinct breeds with 91 breeds present at both shelters, and 4.9% of the dogs identified as purebreds. The three most common breed signatures, in order of prevalence, American Staffordshire Terrier, Chihuahua, and Poodle, accounted for 42.5% or all breed identifications at the great grandparent level. During their stay at the shelter, dogs with pit bull-type ancestries waited longer to be adopted than other dogs. When we compared shelter breed assignment as determined by visual appearance to that of genetic testing, staff at SDHS was able to successfully match at least one breed in the genetic heritage of 67.7% of dogs tested; however their agreement fell to 10.4% when asked to identify more than one breed. Lastly, we found that as the number of pit bull-type relatives in a dog’s heritage increased, so did the shelter’s ability to match the results of DNA analysis. In total when we consider the complexity of shelter dog breed heritage and the failure to identify multiple breeds based on visual identification coupled with our inability to predict how these breeds then interact within an individual dog, we believe that focusing resources on communicating the physical and behavioral characteristics of shelter dogs would best support adoption efforts.

Infectious Disease Prevalence and Factors Associated with Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats Following Relocation

Feline relocation is used increasingly in animal welfare to decrease shelter euthanasia rates and increase positive outcomes. Concerns about infectious disease introduction and transmission are often expressed; however, little research has been conducted on even the baseline prevalence of infectious disease following relocation. This study, which collected data on 430 cats relocated through an established program over 7 months, evaluated the prevalence of upper respiratory infection (URI), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and dermatophytosis at one destination agency. The period prevalence was 25.8% for URI, 1.6% for FPV and 0.9% for dermatophytosis. Mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to investigate factors associated with URI. Younger age, increased time in transport, and increased length of stay at the destination agency were associated with increased URI prevalence following relocation. The findings of this study reveal that certain highly contagious and environmentally persistent infectious diseases, such as FPV and dermatophytosis, are uncommon following relocation in an established program; however, URI in relocated cats should be proactively managed. Animal welfare agencies can use this information to guide shelter and relocation operations and mitigate the impact of URI in relocated cats.