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The most up-to-date animal shelter statistics available

At Best Friends Animal Society, we’re powering lifesaving progress through the most comprehensive animal welfare data in the industry.

At Best Friends Animal Society, we maintain the most comprehensive and reliable dataset in animal welfare, drawing from more than 10,000 shelters and rescue organizations around the country. Used by journalists, policymakers, researchers, and animal welfare leaders, our data provides accurate, up-to-date information about what’s happening across U.S. animal shelters.

Our goal is simple and urgent: help more dogs and cats leave shelters alive and make every community no-kill. To do that, we must clearly understand the full picture — how many shelters exist, how many animals are admitted to shelters each year, and how many pets are saved annually. This allows us to focus our efforts on where we can save the most lives.

But data alone isn’t enough — especially if it doesn’t drive action. Our team of experienced strategists analyzes trends, identifies lifesaving gaps, and translates insights into action, using what the data tells us to guide proven solutions like on-site support, advocacy, and lifesaving programs. This allows shelters to strengthen their save rates and build lasting progress well into the future.

Please feel free to quote any of the following statistics directly and to cite Best Friends Animal Society as a leading expert in no-kill.

About our data collection policies

Our animal sheltering data is collected via an online data-sharing platform, Shelter Pet Data Alliance, as well as from shelter websites, direct information from shelters, files provided by state governing bodies, and through Freedom of Information Act requests. The data for individual shelters in communities around the country can be found on the pet lifesaving dashboard and is updated monthly when possible.

To ensure accuracy and the inclusion of as many shelters as possible, Best Friends gathers publicly available information, submits open-records requests, and asks shelters directly, resulting in nearly 3,000 shelters having already submitted current data for 2024. The remaining data is estimated from historical and community data using a method approved by two independent peer reviews.

The Data
Dive deeper into the data. We’ve broken the data down to show where lifesaving is happening and where help is still needed.
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Quick facts about pets in U.S. animal shelters

  • Nearly 4.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters in 2024.
  • 425,000 dogs and cats were killed in shelters in 2024.
  • If just 6 percent more households chose to adopt from a shelter instead of purchasing a pet, the U.S. would reach no-kill. 

These numbers show both the urgency of the challenge and how achievable the solution truly is.

 

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The reality for dogs and cats in U.S. shelters

What the latest data tells us about pets entering shelters — and why there’s still so much at stake.
 

4.8 million dogs and cats 

Entered shelters in 2024
 

237,000 dogs 

Were killed in shelters in 2024
 

188,000 cats 

Were killed in shelters in 2024
 

425,000 dogs and cats 

Were killed in shelters in 2024
 

One life lost roughly every 90 seconds 

Or almost 1,200 dogs and cats per day
 
Although 8,000 more dogs and cats were saved in 2024 than in 2023, these figures are a reminder that, while progress is real, investing in lifesaving programs and fostering community support are vital to helping pets make it out of shelters alive — and into loving homes.

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Support for no-kill is growing in strength

And people are hungry for change.
 

4 million dogs and cats 

Were saved in shelters in 2024 through adoption, fostering, volunteering, advocacy, and support for lifesaving programs
 

66% of U.S. households 

Have at least one pet and more than 80% consider their pets members of the family
 

More than half of adults 

Believe it’s important or essential to have no-kill shelters in their area
 

72% of adults 

Are more likely to support a shelter working toward becoming no-kill
 
This level of public backing is a powerful force — one that’s already driving progress and proving that communities want, expect, and will stand behind lifesaving change.

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No-kill isn’t just possible; it’s within reach

Across the country, no-kill is becoming the norm.
 

2 out of 3 U.S. animal shelters 

Are no-kill, with hundreds more within reach
 

1,300 U.S. animal shelters 

Are not yet no-kill
 

Just 100 or fewer additional pets 

Need to be saved in half of those 1,300 shelters for them to reach no-kill
 
This is a stark reminder that even small gains can lead to life-changing progress for pets and communities alike — and that together we can make a tangible difference in the lives of our best friends.

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Communities across the country are proving that no-kill is possible

Take a look at some of the progress states are making.

Across the country, shelters and communities are working together to save more lives. And the results show real, measurable progress. No-kill community programs are succeeding nationwide.      

 

What does reaching no-kill mean?

No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate, a commonly accepted benchmark that recognizes some animals may be too sick or injured to save or may pose a safety risk.  

 

82% 

2024 national save rate (up from 71% in 2016)  
 

80% 

Percentage of shelters that had a save rate of 80% or higher in 2024
 
Lifesaving practices are not isolated successes. They’re becoming the norm and showing that years of collaboration, proven lifesaving programs, and community support are working.

But better yet? This progress is translating into statewide momentum.
 

Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Have achieved no-kill 
 

8 more states

Are on the brink of becoming no-kill (Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming)
 

23 states

Have issued no-kill proclamations, signaling a broad commitment to lifesaving policies and partnerships that protect pets and support shelters
 

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Pet adoption is on the rise

And it’s driving lifesaving progress nationwide.
 

7 million U.S. households 

Will welcome a new pet in the coming year
 

2.4 million dogs and cats 

Were adopted in 2024
 

4.1% increase in pet adoptions 

Between 2023 to 2024
 

1 out of 17 households 

If 1 out of 17 households who plan to add a pet chose to adopt from a shelter rather than purchase a pet, the entire nation would reach no-kill 
 
The path forward is clear. Choosing adoption doesn’t just change one life; it moves entire communities closer to a future where every pet has a safe, loving home

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Lifesaving programs that save homeless pets

See our work in action.

Every day, Best Friends Animal Society works alongside partners nationwide to put proven lifesaving strategies into action. Transport programs give pets a second chance by bringing them to communities where they’re more likely to be adopted. Low-cost spay/neuter programs reduce the number of pets entering shelters in the first place.

 

296 registered sending organizations

Connected to 93 receiving organizations through peer-to-peer support programs
 

53 low-cost spay/neuter clinics

Prevented litters to reduce the number of pets entering shelters
 

Pets who are spayed or neutered are more likely to be adopted:

  • Cats and dogs who enter the shelter/rescue system spayed or neutered are about 25% more likely to be adopted than cats and dogs who aren’t already spayed or neutered.
  • Cats and dogs who aren’t spayed or neutered when they enter the shelter/rescue system are about twice as likely to lose their lives in the shelter than cats and dogs who enter spayed or neutered.
  • Cats and dogs who enter the shelter/rescue system spayed or neutered spend on average five fewer days in care than cats and dogs who aren’t already spayed or neutered (18 days versus 23 days).
By combining transport and spay/neuter programs, we’re saving lives today while building long-term solutions that help communities keep more pets safe, healthy, and out of shelters.

The data shows us that we’re now closer than ever to reaching no-kill

When communities come together around proven lifesaving solutions and understand the needs of their local shelters, real change happens.

Ending the killing of dogs and cats in shelters is a community effort, and everyone has a role to play. From adopting and fostering pets to volunteering, supporting local shelters, moving animals to safety, and advocating for lifesaving policies, each action moves us closer to a future where every pet has a chance at life.

When individuals, shelters, and organizations work together, the impact is powerful — saving lives locally while helping to drive nationwide progress toward no-kill.

Help Achieve No-Kill

What does ‘no-kill’ really mean?

In animal welfare, no-kill is defined as achieving at least a 90% save rate for dogs and cats entering a shelter. This benchmark is widely accepted because it reflects a compassionate, realistic standard of care. In any community, a small percentage of animals (typically no more than 10%) may be suffering from severe medical conditions or behavioral challenges that make lifesaving outcomes impossible or unsafe.

When a shelter reaches or exceeds a 90% save rate, it means the vast majority of pets who can be saved are being saved — and that the community has the programs, partnerships, and support in place to make lifesaving the norm.

Why are pets killed in shelters?

Dogs and cats who are healthy or treatable are killed in shelters for one heartbreaking reason: They don’t have a safe place to call home. Shelters can become overwhelmed when there aren’t enough adopters, foster homes, or resources available.

That’s why community involvement is essential. When people adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, and advocate for their local shelters, pets move into homes faster — freeing up space, reducing stress, and saving lives. Lifesaving isn’t just a shelter effort; it’s a community effort.

How do we achieve no-kill?

Reaching no-kill happens when communities work together using proven, evidence-based lifesaving programs. These include strong partnerships among shelters and rescue groups, expanded adoption and fostering, moving pets to areas with greater adoption opportunities, and advocating for policies that support lifesaving.

Just as important is understanding where a community stands today. By using data to identify lifesaving gaps and focusing support where it’s needed most, communities can save more lives — locally and nationwide. Together, these efforts make no-kill not just possible but within reach. 

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The latest from our data experts

See how our animal shelter partners around the country are using data to save homeless pets in their communities.

Data & Technology
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Understanding our data


Using data to guide lifesaving where it’s needed most
To understand where dogs and cats need the most help, we rely on data to guide every decision we make. Each year, Best Friends Animal Society collects shelter data from across the country and analyzes it to identify lifesaving gaps, emerging trends, and opportunities for impact. We then share this information publicly through what we call the national dataset — a comprehensive resource designed to help communities, shelters, and advocates save the most lives. Learn more about the dataset


Transparency empowers communities to save lives
We believe that meaningful progress toward no-kill is only possible when communities have access to clear, reliable information. That’s why Best Friends created the pet lifesaving dashboard — the only publicly accessible, centralized platform where anyone can explore individual shelter data nationwide. By making this information available, we help communities understand where they stand, celebrate lifesaving progress, and identify where additional support can make the biggest difference. See the pet lifesaving dashboard


Strength and trust through transparency 
At Best Friends, transparency isn’t just a value; it’s a responsibility. We’re committed to being open about how we collect, verify, and use data so that partners, journalists, and the public can trust the information we share. By clearly explaining our methodology and sources, we ensure that our data can be confidently used to inform reporting, policy discussions, and lifesaving strategies nationwide. More about our data


Requesting data to support lifesaving efforts

If you need specific data from Best Friends to support work in the animal welfare space, we welcome you to submit a data-sharing request. While we’re not able to fulfill every request, we carefully review each one and do our best to provide information when the data is ours to share and permission allows. Our goal is to support responsible, accurate use of data that helps save more dogs and cats. Submit a data request form

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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Of the roughly 3,900 shelters operating in America today, 1,300 of them are not yet no-kill, but nearly half are close with 100 or fewer additional pets to be saved, and we know what to do to get them there.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our lifesaving centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.