What is it about?
Access to shelter kennels is one of the most direct ways people connect with dogs available for adoption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many shelters suspended visitor access to kennels, relying instead on appointment systems where adopters could only see pre-selected animals in person. In two related studies, we examine how restrictions on kennel viewing affected dog adoptions, especially for dogs with longer shelter stays. We focus on slow-track dogs — dogs with longer lengths of stay (LOS) in the shelter — because they account for a disproportionate share of shelter populations but a smaller share of adoptions. In both the 2023 pilot program and the 2024 policy changes at an Orange County (California) animal shelter, we compare adoption counts and rates during kennel viewing sessions versus periods without viewing access. Across both analyses, kennel viewing significantly increases adoption opportunities. The first study showed that dogs in viewable kennels were more likely to be adopted than similar dogs in the rest of the shelter. It’s available here: https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/85 The main study focused on slow-track dogs. These are the dogs that are not snapped up quickly and can end up filling a shelter. For these dogs, adoption got a major boost during times when visitors could see dogs in person compared with appointment-only or restricted access periods. This shows that giving these slow-to-adopt dogs more opportunities to be seen face to face can help them find homes.
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Why is it important?
Slow-track dogs — those with longer shelter stays — contribute heavily to shelter crowding and resource strain. Policies that improve their chances of being adopted can reduce overcrowding, lower care costs, and improve welfare outcomes. By linking kennel access policy with measurable increases in adoption rates, this work offers evidence that operational changes can yield concrete benefits, especially for dogs that would otherwise remain in care longer. These findings matter not just to shelter administrators but to volunteers, policymakers, and community advocates who shape how shelters balance public access with welfare goals. Restoring or expanding kennel viewing opportunities may be a low-cost, high-impact strategy to improve adoption success for dogs that have historically struggled to find homes.
Perspectives
At Orange County Animal Care, a large public shelter, volunteers noticed a backlog of slow-track dogs not being adopted. I was one of those volunteers! As a retired data scientist, I couldn’t help but dig into the numbers. When the shelter did a pilot program, I asked for the data and published the first paper. When there was a more stable return to kennel visitation I did the main study. The restrictive policies that were kept on through 2024 were detrimental to the animals and to shelter efficiency. Their gradual relaxation was a natural experiment that allowed me to evaluate how dog visibility affects outcomes. My analysis shows that when people can see and interact with dogs in their kennels during regular viewing hours, adoption rates for slow-track dogs are much higher. These results reinforce the idea that shelter policies, even those driven by health or safety concerns, can have unintended effects on animal outcomes. To avoid these pitfalls, careful data tracking is a must for animal shelters. The studies illustrate how data can help shelters make adjustments that improve live outcomes, reduce length of stay, and enhance overall animal welfare. This is practical, evidence-based shelter management in action.
Michael Mavrovouniotis
Social Compassion / SCIL
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Effect of Kennel Viewing on the Adoption of Slow-Track Dogs, Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, March 2025, Association of Shelter Veterinarians,
DOI: 10.56771/jsmcah.v4.123.
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