| Animal Shelter Statistics | |
| Total number of nationwide animal shelters | 5,000 |
| Number of companion animals that enter into animal shelters nationwide annually | 5 million |
| Average annual number of companion animals that are euthinized at shelters | 3.5 million |
| Percent of dogs in animals shelters that are euthanized | 60% |
| Percent of cats in animal shelters that are euthanized | 70% |
| Percent of cats that are returned to their owners | 2% |
| Percent of dogs returned to their owners | 15% |
| Total percentage of dogs claimed to be spayed or neutered | 78% |
| Total percentage of cats that are claimed to be spayed or neutered | 88% |
| Total number of animals that end up in a shelter that are spayed or neutered | 10% |
| Percent of dogs brought to shelters that were adopted by a shelter | 20% |
| Percent of dogs and cats that are adopted from shelters | 25% |
| Total number of dogs and cats that are bought at pet stores | 6% |
| Percentage of people that get their pets free or at low cost | 65% |
| Cost of taxpayer money annually to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals | $2 billion |
| Total percentage of dogs in shelters that are purebred | 25% |
| Total percentage of U.S. homes who own at least 1 companion animal | 63% |
| Total number of homes that own at least 1 companion animal | 70 million |
| PREV DATA SET |
Statistic Sources & References
Sources: American Humane Society, Born Free U.S.A., Pet Finder
Date research was conducted: April 26, 2017
Animal Shelter Statistics
Health