• Of the approximately 6.5 million companion animals who enter shelters nationwide every year, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
• Each year, approximately 1.5 million animals are euthanized (670,00 dogs and 860,000 cats).
• Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year (1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats).
• About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners (620,000 dogs and 90,000 cats).
• Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 48% are adopted and 20% are euthanized
• Of the cats entering shelters, approximately 50% are adopted and 27% are euthanized
• About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
ASPCA - Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.