Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the effectiveness of various methods of reducing the cost of unwanted dogs. A mixed ecological-economic model of animal flow dynamics is utilized to study the impact of various treatments on dog overpopulation. It is found that utilizing such a model which includes long-term and indirect effects can have a large impact in the estimated effectiveness of treatments. Survey results for the New York State Capital Region are utilized to estimate model parameters, analyze the effectiveness of policy options, understand the perceptions and attitudes of dog owners, and to obtain a contingent valuation method estimate of the value to dog owners of their animal and the cost to society of dog overpopulation. A queuing model and time series regression analysis is utilized to understand animal flows into and out of shelters. ;Possible policies analyzed here include increasing shelter space, increasing shelter marketing efforts, low cost spay/neuter programs, spay/neuter public education efforts, financial incentives to encourage adoption, and public education efforts to encourage responsible pet ownership. The effectiveness of policy options is analyzed using a variety of welfare objectives. ;It is found that the "optimal" policy is very sensitive to the time-scale chosen and how welfare is defined. Spay/neuter education and low cost spay/neuter programs are both found to be very effective, but only using a very long time-horizon and only with certain welfare definitions. Increasing shelter space is only found to be cost effective if the increase in selection is also assumed to increase adoption rates. Other education programs and financial incentives vary in effectiveness based on assumptions and time frame used. Additional findings include evidence that adopted dogs may have costs that are low and benefits that are high compared to expectations relative to pure-bred and pet store dogs. Survey results indicating why dog owners choose not to adopt dogs and why they choose not to spay/neuter dogs are also discussed. In general, it is found that reaching a "no-kill" status is achievable for the region with a cost that is less than the average willingness-to-pay using a variety of policy options