5.8 million
dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues
That total was 2% lower than 2024. About 2.8 million were dogs and 3 million were cats.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data ReportRescue reference
U.S. animal shelter
& rescue statistics
A clear, citable snapshot of what happened in U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025, for dog people who want the numbers behind the second chances.
Last updated September 30, 2026 · Data year: 2025
The big picture
The 2025 snapshot.
Shelter Animals Count estimates that 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues across the United States in 2025. The figures below keep the national picture easy to quote, while recognising that every local shelter and rescue has its own story.
4.2 million
dogs and cats were adopted into homes
About 2 million dogs and 2.2 million cats were adopted. Dog adoption rate was 57%; cat adoption rate was 63%.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report597,000
dogs and cats were euthanized
The reported total included 320,000 dogs and 277,000 cats, down 1% from 2024.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report5.294 million
animals had a live community outcome
This includes adoptions, returns to owner or field, and other live outcomes. The total was broadly steady from 2024.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report638,000
dogs and cats were returned to their owners
Nineteen percent of dog intakes led to a return to owner, compared with 3% of cat intakes.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report906,000
dogs and cats were transferred out
Transfers help organisations balance capacity. A further 1.26 million animals were transferred in.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report13,471
animal-sheltering organisations operate in the U.S.
Shelters account for 84% of community intakes, while rescues account for 16%.
Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data ReportA little context
One number never tells the whole story.
National figures are useful for understanding the scale of animal sheltering. They are not a scorecard for an individual shelter, rescue, volunteer, foster or family. Intake, transfer, return-to-owner and adoption patterns can vary significantly by region and by organisation.
For a local picture, reach out to the shelter or rescue you support. For a broader view, Shelter Animals Count publishes its national data and methodology in full.
Methodology & sources
How to read this page.
All figures on this page come from Shelter Animals Count’s 2025 Annual Data Report, published in 2026. Shelter Animals Count compiles national estimates from animal-sheltering organisations across the United States. “Non-live outcomes” includes euthanasia, animals that died in care and animals lost in care.
Read the Shelter Animals Count 2025 Annual Data Report
Cite this page
Nurse&3dogs. “U.S. Animal Shelter & Rescue Statistics.” Updated September 30, 2026. Data source: Shelter Animals Count, 2025 Annual Data Report.
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