August 31, 2019

(CNN)A Florida wildlife refuge is seeking foster homes for about 400 animals as Hurricane Dorian inches closer. Some of the animals that don't get a place to shelter will be sent back into the wild, CNN affiliate WFOR reported.

The nonprofit South Florida Wildlife Center is in Fort Lauderdale, which is in the cone area that might be affected by the hurricane. The center treats injured and orphaned animals such as owls, squirrels, ducks and opossums with a goal of rehabilitating and releasing them into the wild.
"Everybody has their hands full. We had 411 animals on the property when I came in this morning," Dr. Renata Schneider told the station Friday.
The center has started releasing animals that were in good shape, she said, adding that animal instincts will keep them safer in the wild during a hurricane than they would be in a cage.
Those who are not will be placed in a foster home to ride out the storm, the station reported.
Hurricanes are a big cause for concern among both wild animals and pets. Hurricane Harvey in Texas two years ago separated pets from their owners as flood waters got too high. And wild animals were displaced from their environments because of the severe weather.

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• byLjubica Cvetkovska
• November 10, 2019

Unfortunately, most animal shelter statistics in the US paint a sad story. Although there’s been a decline in the number of animals entering shelters over the past decade, there are still many pets euthanized each year.

Numbers matter. Having all the data will raise some awareness among animal lovers—and other people too—about the state of abandoned pets. It might make some reconsider where they get their companion animal from. Others might be encouraged to volunteer. In any case, action is needed, and hopefully these facts and stats will encourage you to take it.

• There are 3,500 animal shelters in the US.
• Altogether, there are around 14,000 shelters and rescue groups in the US.
• No-kill shelters attempt to save 9 out of 10 animals.
• About 6.5 million animals enter animal shelters across the US annually.
• 710,000 strays are returned to their owners each year.
• 23% of dogs in the US were adopted from an animal shelter.
• 733,000 pets were euthanized in 2019.
• More cats are put down than dogs.
• 30% of animals in shelters were left there by their owners.
• Animal shelters cost US citizens almost $2 billion every year.

(HSUS) 

Municipal shelters, or kill shelters, are brick-and-mortar institutions that take in strays and abandoned pets. When a shelter is full or its animals are old and sick, it’s policy to euthanize the animals. 

(HSUS, NPR) 

In addition to kill shelters, no-kill shelters and not-for-profit rescue organizations also operate in the US. These shelters rely on donations and staff to keep going, unlike the government-funded municipal shelters.

(NPR) 

In no-kill shelters, 90% of the animals brought in are adopted or rehomed. However, this doesn’t mean that these institutions do not apply euthanasia. There is still a 10% margin in which elderly and sick pets can be put down.

(PETA) 

As a result of the 90% benchmark, many no-kill shelters have to turn away unwanted pets, the no-kill animal shelter facts show.   

(Today)

A no-kill community is defined as one where every animal shelter in the area has achieved a save rate of at least 90%. 

(Best Friends Animal Society) 

In the case of San Fran’s no-kill animal shelters, the facts point out that Rich Avanzino, considered the father of the no-kill movement, established an adoption pact with the San Francisco Animal Care & Control. This made San Francisco the first no-kill city in the US.

(CBSN) 

Delaware has a save rate of 92.9%. This means that around 12,000 of the 13,000 pets in shelters were returned to their owners or adopted. So far, Delaware is the first and only no-kill state in the US.

(CBSN) 

Texas and California have the lowest save rates. According to the animal shelter statistics by state, in both these states, less than 75% of shelter animals are rehomed.

(Today) 

Even though it might seem a bit challenging, animal lovers believe that it can be done. So far, the number of euthanized animals keeps going down, and the number of rehomed pets is increasing.

(ASPCA, Animal Foundation Platform)

Animal shelter statistics from 2018 indicate that around 3.3 million dogs and 3.2 million cats enter shelters each year. The average age of animals entering shelters is under 18 months old.

(ASPCA) 

In 2011, there were 7.2 million pets taken in by animal shelters in the US. Thanks to adoption and rehoming, that number has declined by over a million.

(DoSomething, One Green Planet)

Statistics about animal shelters show that the insignificantly low number of animals that are spayed or neutered could lead to “overpopulation,” and thus, an even greater number of euthanized animals. It’s estimated that an unspayed dog and her puppies can produce 67,000 dogs in just a six-year period if left unchecked. One female cat that hasn’t been spayed, along with her offspring, can create 420,000 cats in seven years.

(DoSomething, One Green Planet) 

Almost 25% of the dogs that enter local animal shelters have a documented pedigree. Most of the purebred dogs in shelters are pit bulls, which are sadly among the least wanted dogs in the US. 

(ASPCA, DoSomething) 

Of the strays that enter US animal shelters, 620,000 dogs and 90,000 cats have been reunited with their owners, the shelter animal statistics indicate.

(ScienceDaily) 

Cats that were microchipped were 20 times more likely to be returned to their owners. Dogs that had a microchip were 2.5 times more likely to be reunited with their owners, compared to other strays in the shelter.

(ASPCA)

What percentage of pets are adopted? Well, another 1.6 million cats are adopted from animal shelters each year, making the total number of adopted pets reach 3.2 million. This means that of the 6.5 million cats and dogs brought into shelters last year, just under 50% were adopted. Even though adoption rates are increasing, there’s still much to be done to reduce the number of animals in shelters. 

(ASPCA) 

For comparison, 34% of the 78 million dogs owned in the US were bought from a breeder. 

(ASPCA, DoSomething) 

31% of all cats in the US were adopted from a shelter. On the other hand, 27% of cats were adopted as strays. It’s difficult to determine just how many stray cats there are. However, it’s believed that there are 70 million stray cats in the US.

(No Kill Advocacy Center) 

Irremediable suffering refers to animals who have low chances of living without severe pain or urgent medical attention. This means that 99% of pets in shelters are healthy and adoptable.

(Best Friends Animal Society) 

While this number is undeniably high, it’s actually the first year recorded that the total number of dogs and cats killed in US animal shelters dropped to under one million. 

(Best Friends Animal Society) 

This shockingly large number prompted animal activists to take charge and initiate the no-kill movement across the US.

(Best Friends Animal Society, ASPCA, One Green Planet) 

670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats made up this staggering number, which amounted to almost 5,500 animals killed every day. 

(American Humane) 

The relevant pet statistics are clear – in 2016, 56% of dogs and 71% of cats in US animal shelters were put down. The majority of cats that enter shelters don’t have owner identification and thus are less likely to be returned to their owners. 

(PETA) 

Ever wondered, How do animal shelters euthanize animals? True euthanasia is done through an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, which is quick and painless. 

(PETA) 

The sad truth is that many animal shelters still use decompression or gas chambers. This method not only euthanizes animals in an inhumane manner, but it also allows other animals to watch them suffer. Even more upsetting is that some municipal officers euthanize pets with gunshots to the head, which is not always immediately effective and causes even more pain and suffering to the pet, the animal shelter euthanasia facts indicate. 

(HSUS) 

Since 2013, around 70 shelters in 13 US states have chosen to shut down their gas chambers. There are currently 27 states that fully ban the use of these chambers on pets, while four still use gas as a means to euthanize shelter animals. The end goal is to pass a ban on gas chambers in all 50 states. 

(Petful) 

Why do animal shelters kill animals? The answer is overcrowding, meaning that there are too many animals for shelters to take in. Other reasons for euthanasia include elderly or sick animals. When an animal becomes ill, animal shelters euthanize the animal so as to stop the disease from spreading. Often when an animal is ill and in pain, the most humane choice is to end its suffering. 

(Today, Best Friends Animal Society) 

Almost all are in the South. Texas tops the list, animal shelter euthanasia statistics reveal, with around 125,000 animals killed in shelters. California is second with 110,000, followed by Florida with 66,000 euthanized animals. North Carolina with 62,000 and Georgia with 43,000 killed shelter animals round out the five states.

(No Kill Advocacy Center)

Around 75% of Americans believe that it shouldn’t be legal to kill an animal if it’s healthy or can be treated by a vet. According to animal shelter facts and surveys, as many as 96% of US citizens believe that humans are morally obliged to protect animals.

(Animal Foundation Platform) 

Just for comparison, 42.5% of the animals in US shelters were impounded by animal control. Even though animal control takes in more strays, the percentage of abandoned pets is still pretty high.

(ASPCA)

Looking at the animal shelter statistics, almost 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats were abandoned by owners due to pet problems. Pet problems include aggressive behavior, animals growing larger than expected, and health issues the owners couldn’t deal with. 

(Petfinder) 

Other causes for people abandoning their pets include living in a no-pet zone, incompatibility with other pets, expenses, and allergies. 4% of cat and dog owners said they abandoned their animal companion due to personal problems, animal shelter stats indicate. Surprisingly, 11% of cat owners said that they left their pet because they had too many animals in the household.

(Petfinder) 

Around 37.1% of dogs and 30% of cats left in animal shelters across the US were kept for between seven months and a year before being relinquished by their owners.

(Petfinder) 

For 32% of the dogs and 33.2% of the cats left in animal shelters, statistics reveal that they were given to their owners by a friend. Gifted pets account for the largest number of relinquished companion animals.

(Animal Foundation Platform) 

Around a fifth of the people who adopted a pet from an animal shelter end up taking it back. 

(One Green Planet, PetMD) 

The total cost of animals picked up by animal control, as well as their sheltering or euthanasia and disposal, ranges between $1 to $2 billion annually. Most animal shelters are government-funded. However, shelters also raise money through crowdfunding, fundraising events, and donations. 

(Activist Facts) 

Organizations like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) registered revenue in the amount of $206,926,309, the animal shelter statistics from 2015 reveal. 

(Maddie’s Fund) 

Maddie’s Fund, one of the leading animal rights foundations, has made numerous donations toward community lifesaving, medical education, foster care, etc.

Overpopulation is the number one reason for stray or abandoned animals—only 2% of stray cats are neutered or spayed. Public opinion also plays a role. 81% of Americans think that leaving a cat outside is better than having it euthanized. 

It’s estimated that around one million animals are abused every year. 250,000 alone are victims of animal hoarding. There is also a close relationship between animal and domestic violence. 71% of domestic violence survivors reported that their abuser had also injured, killed, or threatened to kill the household pet.

Volunteers are always needed, especially in nonprofit rescue organizations. If you’re 16 or over and wondering how to help animal shelters, volunteering is always a good idea. Bear in mind that unlike the workers in government-funded animal shelters who make about $35K a year, volunteers at no-kill shelters and rescue groups work for free.

The jobs they’re given range from walking dogs, feeding, and cleaning cages to offering adoption counseling and doing administrative chores. Animal shelters also need pet foster parents to look after the animals. The animal usually stays with a foster parent from a few weeks to a couple of months. 

As a rule, animal shelters wait at least 72 hours from when an animal is brought in before euthanizing it.  

For dogs, it’s pit bulls. Almost 93% of the pit bulls that enter animal shelters are killed. They’re also the hardest to find homes for, as only one in 600 pit bulls will be adopted. For cats, it’s the color, not the breed. Black cats have the highest euthanasia rate and are the least likely to be rehomed. 

Why are animal shelters important? Animal shelters care for homeless or abandoned animals and try to give them a home or a humane death if there’s a need for it. Without them, there would be countless animals on the street. 

However, not all animal shelters care for pets as they should, and many of these animals end up being euthanized or abused. The primary way to help animals, and animal shelters for that matter, is to spay or neuter your pets. It’s the best way, as the animal shelter statistics indicate, to reduce the number of abandoned and euthanized animals.