Socioeconomic and Spatial Determinants of Dog Abandonment and Adoption in the Republic of Korea (2021–2023)

TL;DR

This study explores how economic and geographic factors in South Korea affect dog abandonment and adoption rates from 2021 to 2023.

Contribution

The study distinguishes between intentional abandonment and lost dogs, using spatial analysis and normalized data to reveal socioeconomic patterns.

Findings

Higher unemployment benefits correlate with lower dog abandonment rates per 100,000 residents.

Wealthier regions show higher adoption rates of abandoned dogs.

Spatial analysis reveals clustered patterns of dog abandonment.

Abstract

This study investigated the reasons behind dog abandonment and the factors influencing their adoption chances in the Republic of Korea. By using data from 162 regions between 2021 and 2023, this research focused only on dogs that were truly abandoned, excluding those that were simply lost and later returned to their owners. By combining regional statistics with veterinary service costs, this study found that areas with higher rates of unemployment benefits tended to have lower numbers of dog abandonment per 100,000 residents. This surprising result was revealed after the number of dog abandonments was normalized by the total population to avoid potential errors. This study also found that a higher percentage of abandoned dogs were adopted in wealthier regions, measured by comprehensive income tax data, especially in 2021 and 2023. Notably, this study used spatial analysis to identify geographical patterns, revealing that dog abandonment tends to cluster in specific areas. These insights underscore the necessity for region-specific policies, including accessible veterinary care and public support for companion animal guardians, to mitigate abandonment and enhance adoption outcomes.

This study examined the socioeconomic and veterinary cost factors influencing dog abandonment and adoption outcomes across 162 regions in the Republic of Korea from 2021 to 2023. Unlike prior research, this study distinguished between intentionally abandoned dogs and those lost and subsequently returned to their owners, normalizing abandonment data by population. Using publicly available regional data and spatial regression models, we found that the number of people receiving unemployment benefits was consistently and negatively associated with the number of dog abandonments per 100,000 residents, which was normalized by total population to avoid potential errors. Rabies vaccination costs were also negatively associated with abandonment. In contrast, comprehensive income tax amounts—a proxy for regional wealth—were positively correlated with the percentage of dog abandonments reported in 2021 and 2023. Spatial Lag Models accounted for over 50% of the variance in the number of dog abandonments, confirming spatial dependence and highlighting the importance of geographically targeted animal welfare interventions. However, spatial patterns in adoption were less consistent. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating economic and spatial considerations into the design of public policies and shelter strategies to mitigate dog abandonment and enhance adoption outcomes.