Shelter pet lifesaving is up 19% — but that’s only half the story
For many of us, statistics and data are just numbers. Now, I know a lot of folks who just love numbers and can pore over them all day long with great excitement — and thank goodness for them. But for me, the numbers don’t come alive unless I understand the story they tell. And the numbers from our mid-year data report tell a story of resilience, commitment, and lifesaving.
In the first half of 2025, lifesaving for dogs and cats in U.S. shelters jumped up by 19% compared to the same period last year. That’s thousands more pets walking out of shelters alive, so yes, let’s take a quick break for a woooo hoo!
Alright, now that that’s out of my system, let’s resume.
Nineteen percent more dogs and cats saved in shelters is a massive leap — and one that demonstrates the resilience and the promising momentum of the no-kill movement, especially following the headwinds and challenges of the previous few years. But here’s the thing: Progress doesn’t mean the work is done. Many animal shelters around the country are still over capacity and struggling to keep up with the number of pets coming through their doors. Staff and volunteers are doing everything they can to save the animals in their care, but they can’t do it alone.
The good news? Shelters can thrive when their communities rally behind them. Take Bulloch County Animal Services (BCAS), a smaller municipal shelter in Statesboro, Georgia, just shy of reaching no-kill in 2024. In July, BCAS hosted their most successful adoption event to date, and it was a true group effort. Volunteers helped get 41 dogs and 12 cats ready throughout the week leading up to the event. Other community members jumped in to help on the day. A local party rental company donated a bouncy castle. A local Italian ice and gelato spot provided frozen treats. And 20 cats and dogs — more than 20% of BCAS’ total capacity — were adopted! For a shelter that needs to save about 60 more cats and dogs to become no-kill, adopting out 20 in one day is a gargantuan accomplishment. That is the power of community.
More community support means more lifesaving. More adoptions, more pets reunited with families, more foster homes opening up their doors, and more room in shelters for the pets who truly have nowhere else to go.
It’s been a long five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for dogs in shelters. But the tides are finally changing. For the first time since before the pandemic, we are seeing an increase in dog lifesaving, up 20% in the first half of 2025.
Cats continue to be the comeback kings and queens of lifesaving in shelters, with a nearly 18% increase in lives saved so far this year. If this trend holds, 2025 could be another record-breaking year for feline lifesaving.
The reality is, though, that even with these promising numbers, too many shelters are still bursting at the seams, and it can feel like there’s no slowdown in sight. Local support is absolutely crucial — and it starts with just one person raising their hand and saying, “Hey, I want to help. How can I?”
So here’s my challenge to you: What’s one thing you can do today — in your neighborhood, in your shelter, in your circle — that moves the ball downfield? Can you donate blankets and towels to your local shelter? Take an adoptable dog out for an evening walk? Give a cat a break from the shelter and foster for the weekend? What may be a small action for you can have a massive impact for a pet in need and have a ripple effect on the greater sphere of lifesaving.
While animal shelters cannot solve this alone, if we all work together, we can create a future where every pet who can be saved is saved.
Together, we can Save Them All.
-Julie
P.S. Interested in diving deeper into the latest data? Keep an eye on the Best Friends Network Partners page — our Mid-Year Data Report is coming soon.
