Quick answer
US shelters and rescues took in about 5.8 million dogs and cats in 2025 and adopted out 4.2 million, according to Shelter Animals Count. About 597,000 were euthanized.
- Intake fell 2.1% from 2024, about 121,000 fewer animals.
- Adoptions rose 1%.
- 59% of shelter animals arrive as strays.
- The euthanasia rate fell from 10% in 2019 to 8% in 2025.
Animal shelters have been under pressure for years, with more animals coming in than going out. The 2025 numbers, released in 2026, show the first real signs of relief. Here is what the latest national shelter data says about intake, adoptions, euthanasia and lost pets, and what it means if you are thinking about adopting.
Key numbers at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs and cats taken in, 2025 | 5.8 million | Shelter Animals Count |
| Adoptions, 2025 | 4.2 million | Shelter Animals Count |
| Euthanized, 2025 | About 597,000 | ASPCA |
| Returned to owners | 638,000 | Shelter Animals Count |
| Change in intake from 2024 | Down 2.1% | Shelter Animals Count |
| Share arriving as strays | 59% | Shelter Animals Count |
| Euthanasia rate, 2019 vs 2025 | 10% vs 8% | ASPCA |
| Organizations reporting data | 13,471 | Shelter Animals Count |
How many animals enter shelters each year?
About 5.8 million dogs and cats entered US shelters and rescues from their communities in 2025: roughly 2.8 million dogs and 3.0 million cats. That was 2.1% fewer than 2024, or about 121,000 fewer animals (Shelter Animals Count).
How do pets end up in shelters?
Most arrive as strays. 59% of 2025 intakes were strays, 30% were surrendered by their owners and 11% came in through other pathways (Shelter Animals Count).
How many shelter pets are adopted each year?
About 4.2 million dogs and cats were adopted in 2025, up 1% from 2024: roughly 2.0 million dogs and 2.2 million cats. Measured against intake, 57% of dogs and 63% of cats were adopted, both up slightly from 55% and 62% a year earlier (Shelter Animals Count).
Animals also moved between organizations. Shelters and rescues took in 1.26 million transferred animals, up 3%, and sent out 906,000 (Shelter Animals Count). Transfers often move pets from crowded shelters to areas with more adopters.
| 2025 outcome | Dogs | Cats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taken in from communities | 2.8M | 3.0M | 5.8M |
| Adopted | 2.0M | 2.2M | 4.2M |
| Adoption rate | 57% | 63% | n/a |
| Transferred in | 717K | 543K | 1.26M |
| Euthanized | 320K | 277K | 597K |
| Stray return to owner rate | 34% | 6% | n/a |
How many shelter animals are euthanized?
About 597,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in US shelters in 2025: roughly 320,000 dogs and 277,000 cats. Dog euthanasia fell nearly 7% and cat euthanasia fell 2% from 2024, and the overall euthanasia rate dropped from 10% in 2019 to 8% in 2025 (ASPCA).
Counting every animal that died or was lost in care, non live outcomes totaled 757,000, down 1%. Dog non live outcomes fell while cat outcomes rose modestly (Shelter Animals Count).
How many lost pets make it home from shelters?
Far fewer than you might hope, especially cats. Shelters returned 638,000 animals to their owners in 2025, down 3%. Only 34% of stray dogs and 6% of stray cats were reunited with their families (Shelter Animals Count).
A microchip with up to date contact details, plus a collar and ID tag, is the cheapest way to beat those odds. Many shelters microchip pets at adoption, but the chip only works if the registration is current.
How can families help local shelters?
- Adopt instead of shopping when you are ready for a pet.
- Foster a dog or cat short term to free up kennel space.
- Microchip and tag your pets so they come home if they get lost.
- Spay or neuter to prevent unplanned litters, especially kittens.
- Donate or volunteer; even dropping off old towels helps.
Shelter pets make great family members. For more on America’s pets, see our pet ownership statistics, dog statistics and cat statistics.
How we gathered these numbers
All figures come from Shelter Animals Count’s 2025 annual report, released in 2026 with data from 13,471 shelters and rescues, and the ASPCA’s summary of the same data. Shelter Animals Count marked 10 years of national data with this release.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many animals enter US shelters each year?
About 5.8 million dogs and cats entered US shelters and rescues from their communities in 2025, according to Shelter Animals Count. That included about 2.8 million dogs and 3.0 million cats, and total intake was 2.1% lower than in 2024.
How many shelter animals are adopted each year?
About 4.2 million dogs and cats were adopted from US shelters in 2025, up 1% from 2024, according to Shelter Animals Count. Cats had a higher adoption rate than dogs, 63% versus 57% of intake.
How many shelter animals are euthanized each year?
About 597,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in US shelters in 2025, roughly 320,000 dogs and 277,000 cats, according to the ASPCA’s summary of Shelter Animals Count data. The euthanasia rate fell from 10% in 2019 to 8% in 2025.
Why do most animals end up in shelters?
Most arrive as strays. In 2025, 59% of shelter intakes were strays, 30% were surrendered by their owners and 11% came in through other pathways, according to Shelter Animals Count.
What percentage of lost pets are returned to owners?
Only 34% of stray dogs and 6% of stray cats taken into shelters were returned to their owners in 2025, according to Shelter Animals Count. A microchip with current contact details and a collar with an ID tag greatly improve the odds.
