# A Novel Approach to Engaging Communities Through the Use of Human Behaviour Change Models to Improve Companion Animal Welfare and Reduce Relinquishment

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new method using human behavior change models to improve pet welfare and reduce pet abandonment in communities.

## Contribution

A novel co-creation approach combining human behavior change models with community engagement to improve companion animal welfare.

## Key findings

- A mixed-method approach identified timely veterinary treatment as a key welfare concern in the target community.
- Co-creation techniques proved effective in designing community-specific interventions to address pet care issues.
- The approach successfully engaged communities to prevent avoidable pet relinquishment.

## Abstract

By understanding the needs of the owners of vulnerable companion animals, animal welfare organisations can develop targeted community interventions with the potential to improve animal welfare and reduce relinquishment. Utilising human behaviour change models and co-creation techniques allows interventions to be designed that give consideration to the individuality of each community. This case report shares a novel approach to engaging communities towards a shared goal of promoting positive companion animal welfare.

Experts consider tackling companion animal ownership problems, such as delayed veterinary treatment and a lack of appropriate care provision, to be key in striving towards improved animal welfare. Additionally, every year, millions of companion animals are relinquished to rescue centres globally; a process that can be distressing for both people and animals. By adapting traditional shelter model activity, it is possible to develop proactive community interventions to provide support for companion animal owners prior to crisis points and therefore, prevent suffering. This case report shares a novel approach to improving companion animal welfare and reducing avoidable relinquishment in communities. As part of a three-stage process, a mixed-method approach was applied to build an understanding of the needs of owners of potentially vulnerable companion animals in the target community. The research stages revealed that the lack of timely veterinary treatment for pets within the target community represented a welfare concern. Based upon this understanding, a co-creation approach was deployed to design targeted interventions to improve companion animal welfare in the community through the application of human behaviour change theories. The process revealed the operational effectiveness of a co-creation approach to intervention design in the context of improving animal welfare. This novel approach has demonstrated significant value in addressing the needs of pet-owning communities.