Article
Version 1
Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Emergency Animal Boarding: A Social Return on Investment
Version 1
: Received: 30 May 2023 / Approved: 30 May 2023 / Online: 30 May 2023 (11:34:44 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Ma, G.C.; Ravulo, J.; McGeown, U. Emergency Animal Boarding: A Social Return on Investment. Animals 2023, 13, 2264. Ma, G.C.; Ravulo, J.; McGeown, U. Emergency Animal Boarding: A Social Return on Investment. Animals 2023, 13, 2264.
Abstract
Companion animals play a central role in many families and are especially valued by those who are socially isolated. Crisis situations such as acute hospitalizations, homelessness and natural disasters can make it difficult to preserve the human-animal bond and can result in animals being surrendered or euthanized. Social support programs like the RSPCA NSW Emergency Boarding and Homelessness program support people experiencing crisis situations with emergency pet boarding, access veterinary treatment and individualized case management. This study aimed to estimate the social return on investment (SROI) for this program using standard SROI methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 program stakeholders and questionnaire responses were received from 29 program clients. Outcomes were quantified for four stakeholder groups: program clients, client’s animals, RSPCA Inspectors, animal pounds and shelters. Clients and their animals experienced the bulk of the benefit from the program, estimated to have a combined value of over $5 million AUD for the 2020-21 financial year. The estimated social return on investment was $8.21 for each $1 invested. The study demonstrates that keeping people together with their companion animals, or ensuring they are reunited as soon as possible, can reduce stressors, and improve outcomes for people and animals.
Keywords
Companion animal; dog; cat; human-animal bond; Social Return on Investment; animal shelter; animal welfare
Subject
Social Sciences, Other
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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