The Effect of Capacity for Care on an Animal Shelter’s Admission Trends and Risk Factors Affecting Length of Stay of Cats (Felis catus): A Case Study at the Guelph Humane Society, 2011-2016

Abstract

This thesis is an investigation of the time trends in admission rates and risk factors that affect time-to-adoption of cats at the Guelph Humane Society, from 2011 to 2016, while assessing the effectiveness of the Capacity for Care program. In 2014, the Guelph Humane Society implemented the Capacity for Care program at its shelter to improve the movement of cats through the shelter. The effects of this program are assessed using time series and survival analysis. There was a significant reduction in admissions of adult cats following the introduction of the Capacity for Care program when the analysis was adjusted for kitten admissions. Cats were also 24% more likely to be adopted after the implementation of the Capacity for Care program. This thesis is the first to study the effects of the Capacity for Care program using long-term data, in addition to using statistical methods appropriate for retrospective count data.