Data and facts about the shelter dogs of the United States.
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Overview
Jump to: Dog Sheltering Trends
Shelter Dog Population and Dog Sheltering Trends in the US
External link:
Rowan A, Kartal T. Dog Population & Dog Sheltering Trends in the United States of America. Animals. 2018; 8(5):68. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8050068
Historical Trends in Shelter Numbers
- 1959: Approximately 350 active shelters.
- 2015: Approximately 3,500 shelters across 3,100 counties. Estimated 1,400 municipal shelters.
National Dog Intake and Euthanasia Trends
- 1970s:
- Approximately 25% of dogs were free-roaming.
- 13.5 million dogs and cats euthanized annually. (representing 20% of owned dogs)
- Over 90% of shelter animals euthanized.
- Animal intake and euthanasia declined significantly (25-40%) in the decade.
- 1980s:
- Euthanasia rates leveling off.
- 1982 estimate: 7.6-10 million dogs and cats euthanized.
- 1990s-Present:
- Continued decline in euthanasia rates.
- Increased focus on adoption and other humane outcomes.
- 2016: Shelter Animal Count reported 2.6 million animals (1.4 million dogs) needing homes from 2255 participating shelters.
| Source | Woodruff & Smith (2016) | PetPoint (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Shelters | 7076 | NA |
| Total Dogs Entering | 5,532,904 | 4,171,017 |
| Adopted Dogs | 2,628,112 | 2,302,829 |
| Dogs Returned to Owner | 969,443 | 591,375 |
| Dogs Transferred | 778,385 | 642,856 |
| Dogs Euthanized | 776,970 | 592,255 |
National Adoption Rates
- Ad Council Campaign: An ongoing national campaign launched in 2009 by the Ad Council has significantly boosted public awareness of pet adoption.
- Shift in Ownership Trends: The percentage of dogs adopted from shelters and rescues has risen from 15% to over 35% in a decade, while home breeding has decreased dramatically from 5% to 1%.
- Impact on Euthanasia Rates: While adoptions have contributed to a decline in euthanasia rates, it’s important to note that this impact is estimated to be around 25% of the overall decrease between 2009 and 2017.
State-Specific Trends
| State | Year | Dogs Euthanized in Shelters | Human Population (2010) | Dogs/1000 People (2011) | Dogs Euthanized per 1000 People | % of Pet Dogs in State Euthanized in Sheltershelters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2011 | 176,907 | 37,253,956 | 177 | 4.69 | 2.65% |
| Colorado | 2013 | 6968 | 5,029,196 | 264 | 1.36 | 0.52% |
| Delaware | 2011 | 2012 | 897,934 | 180 | 2.22 | 1.23% |
| Maine | 2012 | 644 | 1,328,361 | 226 | 0.48 | 0.21% |
| Maryland | 2011 | 10,477 | 5,773,552 | 157 | 1.8 | 1.15% |
| Michigan | 2013 | 22,909 | 9,883,640 | 206 | 2.32 | 1.13% |
| Nevada | 2011 | 14,679 | 2,700,551 | 212 | 5.39 | 2.54% |
| New Hampshire | 2012 | 346 | 1,316,470 | 161 | 0.26 | 0.16% |
| New Jersey | 2011 | 6023 | 8,791,894 | 152 | 0.68 | 0.45% |
| North Carolina | 2013 | 62,269 | 9,535,483 | 261 | 6.45 | 2.47% |
| Virginia | 2013 | 16,519 | 8,001,024 | 210 | 2.04 | 0.97% |
| Total for 11 States | 296,867 | 90,512,061 | 3.28 | |||
| Estimated USA Totals | 2010 | 1,723,039 | 309,350,000 | 225 | 5.57 | 2.48% |
- New Jersey
- A 75% decrease in impounds and a 90% decrease in euthanasia from 1984 to 2014.
- Increased adoption rates
- Rising from 20% in 1984 to 35% in 1991
- Relatively stable at 35% from 1991 to 2005
- Starting to rise from 2005 and reached 52% in 2016
- California
- Wide variation across counties.
- Coastal counties (e.g., San Diego) have lower euthanasia rates (around 1.5 per 1,000 people) compared to inland counties (e.g., Fresno, with a rate of 12.8 per 1,000 people).
- Statewide decline in intake and euthanasia rates since 1997.
- Michigan
- Steady decline in euthanasia rates from 2005 to 2013.
- Euthanasia rate were 5.65 dogs per 1000 people in 2003, decreased from 5.69 dogs per 1,000 people in 2005 to 2.3 per 1,000 in 2013.
- Ohio
- Decrease in both dog handling and euthanasia rates between 1996 and 2004.
- Dog handling decreased from 19.14 to 15.59 per 1,000 people.
- Euthanasia decreased from 11.50 to 6.85 per 1,000 people.
Sterilization Efforts
- Significant increase in sterilization rates: From 10.9% of licensed dogs in Los Angeles in 1971, jumped to 50% in a few years, to nearly 100% in subsequent years.
- Private veterinary practices played a major role in sterilization, performing 80% or more of the sterilizations from 1970 to 1980.
- Municipal clinics averaged around 10,000 sterilizations a year from 1975 onwards.
- Annual pet sterilizations: In 2005, approximately 11 million pets were sterilized by private veterinarians, while 2.1 million were sterilized through shelters and programs.
Licensing Fees
- Reduced shelter intake: Communities with differential licensing fees saw a 12% decline in animal intake from 1980 to 1985.
- King County, Washington example: A $45 surcharge on licenses for unsterilized pets led to a 14.6% decrease in shelter intake (14.6%) despite a population increase (21.1%) between 1993 and 2006.
- Widespread adoption: Over 80% of U.S. cities and counties now implement differential licensing.
Dog Ownership Trends
- Increased spending on pets: A five-fold increase in pet product spending and a 3.3-fold increase in veterinary services since 1959.
- Strong emotional bonds: A majority of Americans (88% in 2007, 95% in 2015) view their pets as family members.
- Intensive care: Over 45% of dog owners buy birthday presents for their dogs, and 71% share their beds with them.