How many animals enter U.S. shelters each year?

Roughly 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025, according to Shelter Animals Count — National Analysis.

What is a live outcome rate?

The share of animals leaving a shelter alive — adopted, returned to owner or transferred — out of all outcomes including euthanasia. Many shelters call it a 'save rate'.

What does 'no-kill' mean?

A shelter or community is generally considered no-kill when its live outcome rate is 90% or higher.

Where does SaveAPaw's data come from?

Each figure links to the official shelter or government report it comes from, along with the date we last verified it.

U.S. Shelter Outcomes Index · 2025 data

About 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters in 2025.

Sourced intake, adoption and euthanasia figures for every state and major city shelter, with the date each number was checked.

Some city figures are preliminary and will be updated as official reports are verified.

Last updated: November 3, 2026

National summary, 2025 Published estimate

Total intake: 5.8M; Dogs & cats
Adoptions: 4.1–4.2M
Euthanized: 597K–690K; Range across SAC estimates
Live outcome rate: 82%; National estimate

Source: Shelter Animals Count — National Analysis ↗✓ Last verified November 3, 2026

National figures are estimates published by Shelter Animals Count; ranges reflect differences between its estimates. They are not totals of the cities below.

Major city shelters, ranked by live outcome rate

Outcomes vary widely: from ~80.9% in Houston to ~95% in Austin. Rates marked * are published by the agency itself; others are calculated by SaveAPaw. How each rate is sourced →

City shelter outcomes ranked by live outcome rate
#	Shelter	State	Data status	Intake	Euthanasia rate	Outcome rate
1	AustinTexasPreliminary	Texas	Preliminary1 figure verified	15,200	4.2%	~95%*
2	Phoenix (Maricopa County)ArizonaPreliminary	Arizona	Preliminary1 figure verified	29,700	13.1%	94.2%*
3	DenverColoradoPreliminary	Colorado	Preliminary3 figures verified	9,859–10,000	5.3%	93.8%
4	San DiegoCaliforniaPreliminary	California	Preliminary3 figures verified	38,400	6.7%	~91%*
5	Los AngelesCaliforniaPreliminary	California	Preliminary2 figures verified	44,411	13.2%	87.6%
6	ChicagoIllinoisPreliminary	Illinois	Preliminary4 figures verified	17,788	12.1%	86.9%
7	PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaPreliminary	Pennsylvania	Preliminary3 figures verified	18,898	11.3%	86–87%*
8	New York CityNew YorkPreliminary	New York	Preliminary1 figure verified	21,600	14.8%	85.6%
9	SeattleWashingtonPreliminary	Washington	Preliminary1 figure verified	3,900	3.6%	85%+*
10	HoustonTexasPreliminary	Texas	Preliminary4 figures verified	22,445	17%	~80.9%*

Verified checked against the official reportPreliminary not yet confirmed against the official report rate published by the agency itself

Figures are based on the most recent publicly available reports and are subject to verification. Per-city verification status is shown on each page.

State shelter guides

Compare all states →

About the data

SaveAPaw compiles outcomes from official shelter annual reports, city open-data portals and state agency filings. Each page shows the reporting year, a direct link to the source and the date we last checked it. Live outcome rate is adoptions, returns to owner and transfers divided by all outcomes, including euthanasia.

Read the methodology →

Frequently asked questions

How many animals enter U.S. shelters each year?: Roughly 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues in 2025, according to Shelter Animals Count — National Analysis.
What is a live outcome rate?: The share of animals leaving a shelter alive — adopted, returned to owner or transferred — out of all outcomes including euthanasia. Many shelters call it a 'save rate'.
What does 'no-kill' mean?: A shelter or community is generally considered no-kill when its live outcome rate is 90% or higher.
Where does SaveAPaw's data come from?: Each figure links to the official shelter or government report it comes from, along with the date we last verified it.