Faunalytics.org makes use of JavaScript to operate fully, but Javascript is disabled in your browser
Flickr user Helena J. Heidenreich

Number Of Animals Killed In The Shelter System

Author: | Published: August 15, 2011
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
FavoriteLoadingSave to My Library
This article examined the colossal number of shelter deaths in the U.S. and the increases in number over recent years.

https://www.google.com/jsapi
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15435633/hrc/odometer.js
//
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1-p1G1M0ShbdtzJ_McLnAWHP4prKsns4T0NF2PirwWX8/pubchart” query=”oid=1938269380&format=interactive” width=”600″ height=”371″ /]

Method/Source: Using estimates compiled by ANIMAL PEOPLE, the established baseline for this indicator is approximately 4.2 million shelter deaths (2008). The score calculates how much shelter deaths have been reduced since the baseline year by taking the difference between the baseline figure and the current number for shelter deaths, as a proportion of the baseline figure.

Discussion: The number one cause of unnatural deaths for dogs and cats in the U.S. is being killed in animal shelters. The ideal scenario for the companion animal population is not only to reduce the number of homeless animals who are killed in shelters, but also to see that no animals die in this way.

In 2010, an estimated 1,474,019 dogs and 2,062,072 cats were killed in shelters. In both cases this was an improvement from 2008, when shelter deaths were at their highest in the past five years. There were over a half-million fewer animals killed in shelters in 2010 compared with 2008, according to these estimates. This moves the indicator 15% closer to the goal of zero shelter deaths. For the sake of simplicity, the analysis assumes that euthanasia of “untreatable” animals is a very small proportion of the total.

The data is compiled by ANIMAL PEOPLE and is based on a sample of shelters. There are some methodological concerns with this measure, as the sample of shelters used is not necessarily random or representative. However, it is adequate for our purposes for two reasons. First, the study author has adjusted his survey findings based on demographic assumptions to correct for error and geographic bias. Further, this is currently the best and most comprehensive data available on shelter deaths that is collected on a regular basis.

Score: 15/100

Source: ANIMAL People, Merritt Clifton

Odometer widget created by Gavin Brock

Meet the Author:
Faunalytics is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to helping animals by providing useful information to advocates to help them increase their impact.

Tags:

Companion Animals Our Blog Animal Slaughter English Sheltering Cats Dogs

Related Posts

man wearing a fur coat

Big Majority Of Cincinnati Holiday Shoppers Concerned About How Animals Are Killed For Fur

Evaluates opinions of shoppers in major metropolitan cities regarding buying, wearing, and using animals for their fur, including reactions to descriptions of fur farming and trapping practices.

In the Spotlight

Food-Related Aggression in Shelter Dogs: A Comparison of Behavior Identified by a Behavior Evaluation in the Shelter…

Many shelters consider food aggression (FA+) a dangerous behavior and will either adopt such dogs out with restrictive conditions, or consider them not appropriate for adoption and euthanize them. A 2013 study from Boston asks us to rethink conventional wisdom. In a sample of 97 dogs studied three months after adoption, researchers found that only 55% of dogs who were food aggressive (FA+) in the shelter displayed similar behavior at home. Of the dogs that were FA+ after adoption, almost all (93%) of them displayed the behavior rarely and only 18% displayed more aggressive behavior such as lunges or bites.

In the Spotlight
an orange kitten lying outside

Everything You Need To Know As A Shelter Director

This report compiles various estimates of dog and cat populations, focusing on data from the American Association of Pet Product Manufacturers (APPMA).

In the Spotlight
a homeless gypsy begging for money on the street

Incorporating Companion Animals Into Shelter Services

The research is clear that companion animals benefit the psychological well-being of their guardians and a majority of women support the inclusion of companion animals in shelter programs.

In the Spotlight
rabbit eating leaves

Quantifying The Shelter Rabbit Population

Rabbits in shelters are not focused enough on in research even though there are about 6.2 million rabbits living in shelters in the U.S. with ¾ of the intakes coming from owner surrenders.

In the Spotlight
person-holding-prawn

How Many Shrimps Are Killed For Food?

This study found that shrimps far outnumber all other animals killed for food globally, including fishes and chickens. The authors discuss the animal welfare repercussions for the shrimp industry.

In the Spotlight
dog behind a steel fence

The Shelter Pet Project

This presentation describes the goals, strategy, and research behind the Shelter Pet Project, a media campaign focused on increasing the number of adoptions from shelters.

In the Spotlight
cat outdoors

Three Out Of Four Cats Still Don’t Leave Shelter Alive

74% of all cats entering shelters in Orange County, California are euthanized and only 2,214 of the cats were adopted.

In the Spotlight

How Hiding Boxes Can Help Shelter Cats

Evidence shows that having a hiding place is a vital stress reducer for cats, in shelters as well as at home.

In the Spotlight
dog getting cuddles

#AdoptDontShop: 2021 Shelter Data

In this Faunalytics infographic, we break down the 2021 “PetPoint Report” data on cat and dog adoptions throughout the United States.

In the Spotlight

Unmasking the Shelter Dog

The suggestions that black dogs are frequently overlooked for adoption, or that animals given as gifts are more likely to be given up, are just a couple of many theories becoming increasingly entrenched in our language, and these are having a serious effect on the operation of many animal shelters. This article from the Journal for the American Veterinary Medical Association, notes that scientists are working hard to verify whether these ideas have any substance in fact or if they are simply myths. The central theme of the piece is that there are no "shelter dogs" or "shelter cats," but instead each animal in a shelter is an individual being that needs to be considered as a separate case.

In the Spotlight

Shelter Dog Breed Identification: A High-Stakes Game

Only 5% of the dogs in shelters are pure bred, and while shelter staff are able to identify one breed in a profile about 66% of the time, their ability to identify more than one breed in a profile is dismal.

In the Spotlight
Faunalytics uses cookies to provide necessary site functionality and to help us understand how you use our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our privacy policy.
I Agree
meerkat-emails.jpg

Don’t Miss a Thing

Faunalytics delivers the latest and most important information directly to your inbox. Choose what topics you want to see and how often you get our emails, and you can unsubscribe anytime.