Every 2.5 Minutes a Dog is Unnecessarily Killed in U.S. Shelters

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters in 2025, released data showing that in 2023, 207,400 dogs were killed in shelters simply because they didn’t have a place to call home. That makes National Dog Day an ideal time to talk about how people can help save the lives of homeless canines across the country.

In the United States, 568 dogs are killed in shelters every single day of the year - that's one dog every two and a half minutes.

“Despite saving 83% of dogs that entered U.S. shelters in 2023, the number of dogs unnecessarily dying increased by 30%” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “Roughly 7 million people in America are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just 6 percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.”

Here are the top five ways to make a difference for the dogs in communities nationwide:

Adopt a new best friend: When adding a new four-legged companion to their home, choosing the adoption option is one of the simplest ways to help achieve no-kill. Adopting helps save lives and reduce the demand for puppy mills or other inhumane commercial breeding facilities.

Spay and Neuter: Not only does spaying and neutering pets prevent future litters, it can directly decrease the number of pets entering shelters. Additional benefits include reducing the risk of medical problems and expenses down the line,

Foster First: Not ready to adopt? Fostering is a great option that provides a pet with the space and time to decompress, while acclimating to life in a home. Fostering comes at no cost to those opening their homes, as shelter and rescue organizations typically cover all expenses while the pet is in foster. Many organizations offer also offer foster-to-adopt programs where individuals can see if a pet is right for their home before adopting.  

Give back: Shelter staff across the country are spread thin. Walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and doing laundry are all essential tasks to keep shelters running smoothly. If a lack of time prohibits volunteering, donating provides resources to help shelters save more lives. Plus, donations don’t have to be monetary - shelters always need supplies like food, blankets, towels, and even old newspapers. Reach out to your local shelter to find out what they need.

Utilize social media: Shelters and rescue groups often post about dogs in need at their organization. By sharing these posts on social media channels, more awareness is created which can help dogs find foster or adoptive homes. It’s a quick, free, and easy way to make a positive difference. 
 

To learn more about how to get involved, visit bestfriends.org.