What Happens When Shelters Drop Breed Names

A new trend has been making the rounds at shelters across the country: Breed names are being removed from dogs’ cage card descriptions.

Without breed assignments, some dogs are being given a second look, and many shelter pets are being adopted based on their personalities rather than breed expectations.

Let's take a look at what this means for dogs.

How Breed Names Can Help Increase Adoptions

A recent study conducted by Arizona State University concluded that “removing breed labels was associated with increased adoptions and reduced length of stay for all breed groups, particularly pit bull–type dogs.”

The study focused on the effect that breed labels had on potential adoptersand found that people tended to be more wary around certain breeds, including pit bulls. While individuals responded negatively toward dogs labeled “pit bull,” the reaction was more positive around lookalikes who didn’t have a breed label.

A Shelter Ahead of Its Time

The results of the study isn’t news to one Florida shelter. Orange County Animal Services made the decision to remove breed labels from its pets’ cage cards 2 years before the study was published.

A spokesperson for the shelter reported making the change because breed labels were “potentially putting a stigma or connotation on the dog that may not be true.” They hoped that removing the labels would encourage adopters to judge the dogs based on their actual personalities, rather than negative stereotypes.

Orange County Animal Services had 3 record-high adoption months the year it removed breed labels, and its staff members are contacted by shelters across the country that would like to make the same change.

Inaccurate Breed Labels

Because DNA testing is too expensive for most shelters, identifying the dogs' breeds takes a lot of guesswork.

Although 25% of shelter pets are purebred, most are mixes. With 189 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, the combinations are limitless. Many adoptable pets are classified broadly as mixed hound, shepherd, retriever, terrier, etc., mostly because it's extremely difficult to accurately select the exact combination of breeds that make up 75% of the dogs in a shelter.

Guessing at these breeds is also unreliable and often inaccurate. In fact, 50%of shelter dogs labeled as “pit bulls” were found to have no “DNA breed signatures of breeds commonly classified as pit bulls.”

So, half of the "pit bulls" in shelters aren’t actually pit bulls.

The Benefits of No Labels

According to a Newsweekarticle, the adoption rate for pit bulls increased by 12% once breed labels were removed, and there was a “12% reduction in euthanasia of pit bull–type dogs.”

Pit bulls weren’t the only breed to benefit -- adoption rates also increased for mastiffs, dobermansand Boxers.

Removing breed labels encourages adopters to spend more time with adoptable dogs and get to know their personalities and characteristics rather than jumping to (possibly incorrect) conclusions based on (also possibly incorrect) breed assignments. Instead of assuming that ... Border collie mixes will be nippy with children Beagle mixes will bark constantly Lab mixes are good hunting dogs

... adopters will make decisions based on the dogs’ actual behaviors. Perhaps that Border Collie mix is a doll with children. Maybe the Beagle mix would rather snooze than bay, and the Lab mix might not care less about ducks.

According to Kristen Auerbachof Austin Animal Center, “Breed labels come with a set of expectations, generalizations and stereotypes” that “set unreasonable expectations for shelter dogs.” Removing labels could be the first step toward a more informative and considerate approach to the adoption process. Check out these fascinating animal shelter facts:

Problems With Removing Breed Labels

It's true -- some issues can crop up from removing the labels, such as:

• Software compatibility. Most animal shelters use computer programs that require breed labels. The breed type entry is mandatory for many of these programs and is automatically printed on cage cards.
• Homeowner’s insurance and rental limitations. Many insurance companies and rental units have restrictions on dog breeds, including pit bull–type dogs, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Bulldogs, shepherds, etc.
• Breed-specific legislation (BSL). A number of regions across the United States enforce BSL, banning dogs who have physical characteristics similar to pit bulls, Bulldogs or mastiffs.

Shelters that remove the labels must address these problems. Otherwise, adoptions may fall through or the adopters could face serious consequences.

As long as these issues are remedied, shelters can remain attentive and responsible when placing their dogs in compatible homes. Removing breed labels could mean higher adoption rates, lower euthanasia rates and happier adopted pets.