Estimated number of brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US: 3,500
Estimated number of rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America: 10,000
Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million (down from 13 million in 1973)
Of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters each year, approximately 2.4 million (80%) are healthy and treatable and could have been adopted into new homes
Percentage of purebred dogs in shelters: 25%
Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 4 million
Percentage of cats euthanized in shelters: 70%
Percentage of total shelter intake comprised of cats: Approximately 50% (but in some regions 2/3 of shelter population is cats)