Stats & Figures

Did you know that:

• 6-8 million dogs and cats enter shelters in the US every year
• ½ are euthanized due to unavailable adopters
• There are between 4000 and 6000 shelters in the US
• Less than 30% of dogs who enter shelters are ever claimed
• 25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds
• A fertile dog can produce an average of 2 litters each year with each litter averaging 6-10 puppies
• In six years, one female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs

According to the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, the most common reasons why owners relinquish dogs to animal shelters are:

• no obedience training
• lack of veterinary care
• dogs being sexually intact
• dogs having daily or weekly housetraining “accidents”