NUMBER OF ANIMALS KILLED IN U.S. SHELTERS EACH YEAR

According to Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization that promotes pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter, the number of dogs and cats killed in U.S. shelters has significantly decreased over the last 5+ years.

  • 2021: 355,000 (83%)*
  • 2020: 347,000 (83%)*
  • 2019: 625,000 (79%)*
  • 2018: 733,000 (77%)*
  • 2017: 855,000 (75%)*
  • 2016: 1,500,000 (70%)*
  • 2015: 2,000,000 (64%)*

*(Save rate for dogs and cats)

POPULAR PET ADOPTION WEBSITES

REHOMING PETS

An increasing number of pet owners are adopting pets directly via websites that offer HOME-TO-HOME adoptions. Pets staying out of animal shelters reduces the risk of exposure to illness and the potential of being euthanized while increasing the shelters’ ability to care for the homeless and abused animals.

POPULAR REHOMING WEBSITES:

According to an ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey (2015), it’s estimated that 6% of all households (6.12 million households) with dogs and cats in the U.S. Rehomed a pet within the previous 5 years.

PETS WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE REHOMED BY:

  • Given to a friend or family member: 37%
  • Relinquished to animal shelter: 36%
  • Taken to a veterinarian: 14%
  • Given to someone not previously known (stranger): 11%
  • Set free: 1%

Goodbye to a Good Friend: An Exploration of the Re-Homing of Cats and Dogs in the U.S. (October 2015)
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=60176

RECENT NEWS:

New Data Shows Increase in Number of Dogs and Cats Killed in U.S. Animal Shelters for First Time in 5 Years (6.11.22)
https://www.pets.care/news/2022/06/number-of-pets-killed-in-us-animal-shelters-increases-for-first-time-in-5-years/

  • “Unfortunately, the setback in lifesaving is largely due to the historic decreases in pets entering shelters in 2020,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society.

Kinship Announces Acquisition of AdoptaPet.com (6.1.21)
https://kinship.co/news/startups-business/a-partnership-with-a-common-purpose

  • Kinship (part of Mars Petcare) announces the acquisition of Adopt-a-Pet.com, a leading pet adoption platform.

NEWS BLOG – CATEGORY: ANIMAL SHELTERS