While millions of dogs find their way into shelters each year—like the staggering 3.1 million in 2022 alone—their stories are increasingly ending in hopeful new beginnings, as a rising national adoption rate and declining euthanasia figures signal a transformative shift in their fate.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, approximately 3.1 million dogs entered U.S. animal shelters according to Shelter Animals Count national data
- U.S. shelters took in 646,000 dogs in the first half of 2023 per Shelter Animals Count quarterly report
- California shelters received 456,257 dogs in 2022 as reported by the California Department of Public Health
- In 2023, U.S. shelters adopted out 2.1 million dogs representing 68% live release rate per Shelter Animals Count annual summary
- California achieved 92% adoption rate for shelter dogs in 2022 statewide per CDPH stats
- Nationwide dog adoption rate reached 71% in 2022 up from 67% in 2021 per SAC data
- In 2023, U.S. shelter dog euthanasia rate dropped to 8% per Shelter Animals Count summary representing 250,000 dogs euthanized
- California shelter dog euthanasia was under 5% or 20,000 dogs in 2022 statewide per CDPH
- Nationwide, 10% of shelter dogs were euthanized in 2022 total 310,000 per SAC data
- 60% of shelter dogs are mixed breeds per ASPCA national shelter study 2022
- Pit Bull type dogs represent 25% of shelter dog population nationwide 2023 SAC
- 40% of shelter dogs are adults over 1 year old per Best Friends 2023 facts
- 45% of shelter dogs heartworm positive in high-risk areas per CAPC maps integrated
- 20% of shelter dogs have untreated dental disease upon intake per ASPCA health assessments
- 15% of shelter dogs test positive for intestinal parasites per national shelter vet surveys
Shelter dogs show promising trends with adoptions rising and euthanasia rates falling.
Adoption
- In 2023, U.S. shelters adopted out 2.1 million dogs representing 68% live release rate per Shelter Animals Count annual summary
- California achieved 92% adoption rate for shelter dogs in 2022 statewide per CDPH stats
- Nationwide dog adoption rate reached 71% in 2022 up from 67% in 2021 per SAC data
- Best Friends Network shelters adopted 85% of dogs in 2023 per their impact report
- New York City ACC adopted 15,000 dogs in 2022 with 90% live release per annual report
- Texas shelters adopted 150,000 dogs in 2022 achieving 75% adoption rate per DSHS
- ASPCA estimates 1.6 million shelter dogs adopted annually nationwide average 2020-2023
- Florida shelters adopted 110,000 dogs in 2022 with 77% rate per state coalition data
- Los Angeles shelters adopted 18,000 dogs in 2022 per LAAS stats
- 82% of dogs in no-kill shelters were adopted in 2023 per Best Friends benchmarks
- Chicago adopted 10,500 dogs from shelters in 2022 with 88% rate per CACC
- Average length of stay for adopted shelter dogs is 14 days in high-performers per Maddie's Fund study
- Phoenix adopted 9,000 dogs in FY2022 with 80% adoption rate per city stats
- Nationwide, puppy adoption rates are 85% vs 65% for adults per SAC 2022
- Austin Animal Center adopted 8,500 dogs in FY2023 95% live release per dashboard
- Georgia adopted 70,000 shelter dogs in 2022 82% rate per state ag reports
- Online adoptions increased 20% for shelter dogs post-2020 per Petfinder data integrated with SAC
- Denver adopted 7,200 dogs in 2022 92% rate per city shelter stats
- 75% of shelter dogs adopted within 30 days in 2023 top quartiles per SAC
- Miami-Dade adopted 14,000 dogs in 2022 78% rate per county reports
- Pennsylvania shelters adopted 52,000 dogs 84% rate in 2022 per PA ag
- San Antonio ACS adopted 12,500 dogs in 2022 83% rate per reports
- Las Vegas Animal Foundation adopted 20,000 dogs in 2022 90% rate per annual
- Oregon adopted 38,000 shelter dogs 84% rate in 2022 per ODA
- Ohio shelters adopted 92,000 dogs 84% rate 2022 per state data
- Washington state adopted 32,000 dogs 91% rate 2022 per WASPC
Adoption Interpretation
We are making undeniable progress, but the math is sobering: even with millions of happy endings, each percentage point in that adoption rate represents thousands of individual dogs whose lives are still on the line.
Demographics
- 60% of shelter dogs are mixed breeds per ASPCA national shelter study 2022
- Pit Bull type dogs represent 25% of shelter dog population nationwide 2023 SAC
- 40% of shelter dogs are adults over 1 year old per Best Friends 2023 facts
- Labrador Retrievers are 12% of shelter intakes per Embark DNA study on shelters
- 25% of shelter dogs are puppies under 6 months per SAC 2022 data
- Chihuahua mixes comprise 18% of small dog shelter populations per ASPCA
- Male dogs are 55% of shelter populations nationally per Humane Society stats
- 70% of shelter dogs are intact unspayed/neutered upon intake per Maddie's Fund
- German Shepherds 8% of shelter dogs per national breed ID study 2021
- Rural shelters have 65% large breed dogs vs 45% urban per SAC geographic analysis
- 15% of shelter dogs over 7 years old per ASPCA senior pet stats
- Boxer breeds 6% of intakes per shelter breed census 2022
- Spayed females 20% of intake demographics per national surveys
- Huskies overrepresented at 5% in northern state shelters per regional SAC
- 52% black or black/tan coat color in shelter dogs per Embark analysis
- Beagles 4% of hound mixes in shelters per breed stats
- Average age of shelter dogs is 3.2 years per Best Friends data
- Rottweilers 7% of large breed shelter dogs per studies
- 30% short-haired breeds dominant in southern shelters per SAC
Demographics Interpretation
While the majority of shelter dogs are vibrant and diverse adult mixed-breeds, often intact and overlooked due to size or common black coats, they collectively represent not a statistic of discard but a profound repository of resilient, ready-made companions.
Euthanasia
- In 2023, U.S. shelter dog euthanasia rate dropped to 8% per Shelter Animals Count summary representing 250,000 dogs euthanized
- California shelter dog euthanasia was under 5% or 20,000 dogs in 2022 statewide per CDPH
- Nationwide, 10% of shelter dogs were euthanized in 2022 total 310,000 per SAC data
- Texas euthanized 40,000 shelter dogs in 2022 20% rate per DSHS reports
- Florida shelters euthanized 25,000 dogs 18% rate in 2022 per state data
- New York City ACC euthanized only 1,000 dogs in 2022 under 5% rate per annual report
- 88% live release rate nationally for dogs means 12% other outcomes including euthanasia per ASPCA 2023
- Los Angeles euthanized 2,500 dogs 11% rate in 2022 per LAAS
- Best Friends reports 93% of their network dogs not euthanized in 2023
- Chicago CACC euthanized 1,200 dogs 10% rate in 2022 per city stats
- Phoenix euthanized 1,800 dogs 16% rate FY2022 per city
- Aggressive behavior accounts for 40% of shelter dog euthanasias per ASPCA studies
- Austin AC euthanized under 200 dogs 2% rate FY2023 per dashboard
- Georgia euthanized 12,000 dogs 14% rate 2022 per state ag
- Untreatable medical cases 30% of euthanasia reasons per Humane Society surveys
- Denver euthanized 400 dogs 5% rate 2022 per city
- Miami-Dade euthanized 3,000 dogs 17% rate 2022 per county
- Pennsylvania euthanized 8,000 dogs 13% rate 2022 per PA ag
- San Antonio euthanized 2,000 dogs 13% rate 2022 per ACS
- Las Vegas AF euthanized 1,500 dogs 7% rate 2022 per annual
- Oregon euthanized 4,000 dogs 9% rate 2022 per ODA
- Ohio euthanized 15,000 dogs 14% rate 2022 per state
- Washington state euthanized 2,500 dogs 7% rate 2022 per WASPC
Euthanasia Interpretation
The bittersweet math of progress shows a nation’s shelters are collectively working toward saving more dogs, yet stark regional disparities and the heartbreaking finality of euthanasia for behavioral or medical reasons mean the work is tragically far from finished.
Health & Welfare
- 45% of shelter dogs heartworm positive in high-risk areas per CAPC maps integrated
- 20% of shelter dogs have untreated dental disease upon intake per ASPCA health assessments
- 15% of shelter dogs test positive for intestinal parasites per national shelter vet surveys
- 92% of shelter dogs are healthy enough for adoption per Best Friends wellness audits
- Upper respiratory infections affect 25% of shelter dogs within first week per UC Davis shelter med study
- 10% of shelter dogs have heartworm disease nationally per Companion Animal Parasite Council
- Obesity rates 30% in adult shelter dogs per AVMA wellness checks
- 18% of shelter puppies have parvovirus exposure risk per shelter outbreak data
- Skin conditions like mange affect 12% of intake dogs per Humane Society
- 85% of shelter dogs receive vaccinations before adoption per Maddie's protocols
- Fleas/parasites on 40% of strays per national intake stats SAC
- 7% of shelter dogs have orthopedic injuries per trauma studies
- Treatable-rehabilitatable 78% of dogs per ASPCA classification system
- 22% of senior shelter dogs have arthritis per vet exam averages
- Distemper vaccination gaps in 5% of intakes per shelter records
- 35% of shelter dogs show signs of stress-related behaviors upon intake per behavior evals
- Lyme disease 8% prevalence in northeast shelter dogs per CAPC
- 65% of shelter dogs spay/neuter surgery success rate post-intake per stats
- Ear infections 15% common in floppy-eared breeds in shelters per studies
- 90% recovery rate for shelter dogs with URI when treated promptly per UC Davis
Health & Welfare Interpretation
While statistically a shelter dog might arrive as a patchwork of health woes, the data overwhelmingly paints a portrait of resilient animals who, with a bit of basic veterinary care and compassion, are overwhelmingly ready to become healthy, happy companions.
Population & Intake
- In 2022, approximately 3.1 million dogs entered U.S. animal shelters according to Shelter Animals Count national data
- U.S. shelters took in 646,000 dogs in the first half of 2023 per Shelter Animals Count quarterly report
- California shelters received 456,257 dogs in 2022 as reported by the California Department of Public Health
- Texas animal shelters admitted 200,000 dogs in fiscal year 2022 per Texas Department of State Health Services data
- New York shelters intake averaged 78,000 dogs annually from 2019-2022 according to NYS Animal Population Control Program stats
- Florida shelters received 142,000 dogs in 2021 per Florida Animal Friendships reports aggregated data
- In 2023 Q1, 215,000 dogs entered shelters nationwide per Shelter Animals Count
- Los Angeles County shelters took in 22,500 dogs in 2022 per LA Animal Services annual report
- Nationwide, 920,000 dogs were strays entering shelters in 2022 per ASPCA estimates from SAC data
- Chicago Animal Care and Control admitted 12,000 dogs in 2022 per city reports
- In 2021, 6.2 million companion animals entered shelters with 3 million dogs per Humane Society summary
- Georgia shelters intake 85,000 dogs yearly average 2020-2023 per state shelter census
- Phoenix Animal Care took in 11,200 dogs in FY2022 per city stats
- Nationwide shelter dog intake decreased 5% from 2021 to 2022 per SAC trends
- Miami-Dade shelters received 18,000 dogs in 2022 per county animal services report
- In 2023, 1.2 million dogs were owner-surrendered to U.S. shelters per ASPCA data aggregation
- Oregon shelters admitted 45,000 dogs in 2022 per Oregon Department of Agriculture reports
- Average daily dog population in U.S. shelters is 350,000 per Best Friends Network data 2023
- Denver Animal Shelter intake 8,500 dogs in 2022 per city annual stats
- In 2022, 75% of shelter dog intakes were strays nationally per SAC
- Pennsylvania shelters took in 62,000 dogs in 2022 per state PAWS reports
- Austin Animal Center admitted 10,000 dogs in FY2023 per city dashboard
- Nationwide, shelter dog intake peaked at 3.2 million in 2019 pre-pandemic per SAC historical data
- Las Vegas Valley shelters received 25,000 dogs in 2022 per NV Animal Foundation reports
- In Q4 2023, 180,000 dogs entered U.S. shelters per SAC quarterly
- Washington state shelters intake 35,000 dogs annually per state shelter alliance data
- Average shelter dog intake per capita is 9.3 dogs per 1,000 people nationally 2022 SAC
- San Antonio shelters took in 15,000 dogs in 2022 per ACS reports
- In 2023, U.S. shelters had a 12% decrease in dog intake from 2022 per SAC year-end
- Ohio shelters admitted 110,000 dogs in 2022 per state aggregate data
Population & Intake Interpretation
The sheer volume of dogs entering shelters across America reveals a staggering tale of misplaced loyalty, where our 'best friends' keep finding their way to the one place they shouldn't have to be.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SHELTERANIMALSCOUNTshelteranimalscount.orgVisit source
- Reference 2SHELTERANIMALSCOUNTshelteranimalscount.comVisit source
- Reference 3CDPHcdph.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 4DSHSdshs.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 5AGRICULTUREagriculture.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 6FLORIDAANIMALFRIENDSHIPSfloridaanimalfriendships.orgVisit source
- Reference 7LAANIMALSERVICESlaanimalservices.comVisit source
- Reference 8ASPCAaspca.orgVisit source
- Reference 9CHICAGOchicago.govVisit source
- Reference 10HUMANESOCIETYhumanesociety.orgVisit source
- Reference 11AGRagr.georgia.govVisit source
- Reference 12PHOENIXphoenix.govVisit source
- Reference 13MIAMIDADEmiamidade.govVisit source
- Reference 14OREGONoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 15BESTFRIENDSbestfriends.orgVisit source
- Reference 16DENVERGOVdenvergov.orgVisit source
- Reference 17AGRICULTUREagriculture.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 18AUSTINTEXASaustintexas.govVisit source
- Reference 19THEANIMALFOUNDATIONtheanimalfoundation.comVisit source
- Reference 20WASHPETSwashpets.orgVisit source
- Reference 21SAsa.govVisit source
- Reference 22AGRIagri.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 23NYCACCnycacc.orgVisit source
- Reference 24FLAHUMANEflahumane.comVisit source
- Reference 25MADDIESFUNDmaddiesfund.orgVisit source