Unfortunately, the most recent statistics published by the National Council are from 1997, and only 1,000 shelters replied to the survey at that ti… Just one female dog and her puppies can result in 67,000 dogs in six years, and one female cat and her kittens can lead to 370,000 cats being born in seven years. We have found startling differences in pet ownership. Shelters, nonprofit rescues, private breeders, pet stores — all reported more consumer demand than there were dogs and puppies to fill it. Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. A dog from a local shelter helped launch Can do Canines shelter dog program in 1989. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state. Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). Count me in. Among other obscure monthly holidays, October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. A little over 55% of abandoned dogs are euthanized in shelters; Approximately 80% of all pets in shelters that are euthanized are completely healthy and adoptable; Many people who love animals are quick to place the blame with rescue shelters, when, frankly, they … Roughly 30 million acquire a new companion animal every year. That translates to over 10 million healthy animals a year. Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training. American Pet Products Associationhttp://www.americanpetproducts.org/, The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy (NCPPSP)http://www.petpopulation.org, The American Veterinary Medical Associationhttp://www.avma.org (see U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics). - ♥ RESCUE ME! Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source. "Click here to view Dogs in Nevada for adoption. She was a Lhasa Apso mix named Annie and she assisted her person for eight years. 9.0 million dogs; 8.0 million cats; In the UK, it's estimated that 12 million (44 percent of) households have pets* with around 51 million pets owned. While the figures referenced previously tend to reflect “mainstream America,” the Pets for Life team of the HSUS has spent years working in, and collecting data from, our nation’s most underserved communities which lack affordable, accessible pet care. Reply STOP to opt out. Message and data rates may apply. Every year, around 1.2 million dogs are put down at shelters across the U.S. How Many Pets Enter Shelters Each Year This is not an insignificant problem because every year in the U.S. alone, about 6.5 million dogs and cats enter the U.S. shelter … Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn’t handle. Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. In the meantime, here are the best estimates of the Humane Society of the United States: Efforts like The Shelter Pet Project are helping to increase the number of pets adopted from shelters and rescues, as opposed to from inhumane sources like puppy mills. Annual statistics on the numbers of animals received, reclaimed or rehomed are compiled on a national basis by RSPCA Australia. Over $2 billion is spent annually by local governments to shelter and ultimately destroy 8-10 million adoptable dogs and cats due of shortage of homes. Annie was the first of over 500 rescued dogs specially trained as service dogs to assist people with hearing, mobility, seizures, diabetes, and autism. Individuals & rescue groups can post animals free." Dogs are animals and … Percentage of dog owners who consider their dogs to be family members: 66.7% 85% Percentage of dog owners who consider their dogs to be pets or companions: 32.6% 14% Percentage of dog owners who consider their dogs to be property: 0.7% 1% Average amount spent on veterinary care per year, per dog: $227: $1,542: $495: $1,386 Once a pet is left at a shelter, it has about 72 hours to be adopted before it is destroyed. Will you end 2020 by being the hero they need? Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. Small dogs are adopted faster than large dogs, though color and gender don’t affect adoption rates. How many animals are in shelters? The average age of animals entering shelters is under 18 months old. National euthanasia statistics are difficult to pinpoint because animal care and control agencies are not uniformly required to keep statistics on the number of animals taken in, adopted, euthanized or reclaimed. Community cats are friendly stray or abandoned cats as well as feral (unsocialized) cats. The HSUS advocates for a trap-neuter-return approach to humanely managing community cats. ; Over two million people live in communities saving between 98% and 99% of dogs and cats in their shelters (over two million saving at least 98% of dogs). According to the ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. About 5.5 million animals enter shelters every year. For the most up-to-date numbers on pet ownership and acquisition, visit AnimalSheltering.org. By providing my mobile number, I agree to receive periodic text messages from the ASPCA. The numbers in this data set were provided by each individual facility, if you have questions about the numbers please call the facility directly. 2019 Florida Shelter… Together these surveys provide data about trends in pet ownership and produce a reasonably accurate estimate of the total number of dogs and cats. These cats are unowned, but may be provided with food, water and/or shelter by caring individuals. Yes, an entire month devoted to dog shelters, and the rescue of animals in need. The Humane Society of the United States is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. However, they don’t have access to veterinary care, spay/neuter providers and other services most Americans take for granted, and this difference is reflected in the data: Cats are divided into three distinct populations—those who are personal pets, those being cared for by shelters and rescues and those who live their lives out in our communities. The dog has become incontinent and rather than taking the dog to a vet to determine the problem, the people bring the dog to a shelter … in many cases without telling the shelter the real reason they’re surrendering the dog. In addition, the ‘other’ category includes all source categories that were reported by <10% of both dog and cat owners). Privacy Policy and Around 27% of cats are acquired as strays, down from 35% in 2012. In the 20 years since San Francisco's SPCA guaranteed adoption for healthy dogs, shelters and rescue groups have embraced the no-kill approach. Breeding too many puppies and kittens is absolutely responsible for a large number of these dogs and cats entering the shelter system. The most common reason cited is ‘pet problems,’ according to a survey, accounting for no fewer than 47 percent of dogs rehomed in a year. While many shelters know the value of keeping statistics, no national reporting structure exists to make compiling national statistics on these figures possible. It's simply a matter of volume. Dogs are housed in approximately 3,500 animal shelters nationwide in the United States, based on 2014 data from the Humane Society of the United States. About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of the 7.6 million animals who enter shelters each year, 3.3 million are dogs. APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society. Message and data rates may apply. The pup’s adoption is often short lived and their chances of winding up in a shelter down the track very high. The findings are both interesting and a little surprising. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners. The RSPCA receives thousands of animals every year in every state and territory in Australia. Dogs suffer from vagrancy just as much as humans do. U.S. pet ownership, community cat and shelter population estimates, Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, Pets living in underserved communities in the U.S.: 23 million, Percentage of pets living in underserved communities who are not spayed or neutered: 87%, Percentage of pets living in underserved communities who have never seen a veterinarian: 77%, Estimated number of community cats in the U.S.: 30 to 40 million, Percentage of community cats who are spayed/neutered: 2%, Percentage of new kittens born each year produced by community cats: 80%, Percentage of people who believe leaving a community cat outdoors is preferable to having him or her caught and euthanized: 81%, Percentage of people providing food for community cats: 10 to 12%, Estimated number of brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US: 3,500, Estimated number of rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America: 10,000, Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million (down from 13 million in 1973), Of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters each year, approximately 2.4 million (80%) are healthy and treatable and could have been adopted into new homes, Percentage of purebred dogs in shelters: 25%, Number cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 4 million, Percentage of cats euthanized in shelters: 70%, Percentage of total shelter intake comprised of cats: Approximately 50% (but in some regions 2/3 of shelter population is cats), Estimated amount spent by humane organizations annually: $2.5 billion (about $8 per capita), Estimated amount spent by animal control organizations annually: $800 million to $1 billion (about $4 per capita). 10 of the United States animals enter U.S. animal shelters for adoption you have general questions please send an to! 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