Animal abuse facts and statistics 2024

 

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USA TODAY
By: Mandy Sleight & Kara McGinley
Published: Jan 10, 2024

 

Animal abuse statistics and facts at a glance

Sadly, it’s estimated that approximately one animal faces abuse every minute somewhere in the U.S. Below, you’ll find more disheartening animal abuse facts and statistics.

• An estimated 10 million animals die from abuse or cruelty every year in the United States.¹
• About 250,000 animals annually are found to be victims of animal hoarding, with most living in unsanitary conditions.²
• Nearly 400,000 dogs that enter shelters across the country are euthanized annually.³
• Around 75% of exotic lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises taken from the wild die in captivity within their first year of becoming someone’s pet.⁴
• An estimated 10,000 puppy mills exist in the country, with Missouri — for the 11th consecutive year — having the most and highest number of abusive mills.⁵
• Over 110 million animals are killed in U.S. laboratories each year.⁶
• Roughly 85% of people arrested for animal abuse or cruelty have had multiple past arrests, with 70% having prior felonies.⁷
• Around 70% of people who committed domestic violence were also found to be animal abusers.⁸
• When comparing animal cruelty charges among adults, men outnumber women by 4 to 1 in almost all abuse types.⁹

How many animals are abused each year?

We’ll never know exactly how many animals get abused each year because not all cruelty cases get reported. However, here are some facts that we do know:

• Globally, at least one animal is abused every 60 seconds.³
• Close to 10 million animals die from abuse or cruelty annually in the United States.¹
• Laboratories across the country abuse and kill over 110 million animals each year for experiments, including chemical, cosmetic, food and drug testing.⁶

Lack of food, water and shelter, too tight collar, matting, open sores, mange and signs of starvation are clear signs that an animal is being neglected.

How many animals die from animal abuse?

It’s estimated that 10 million animals die from abuse each year in the United States alone.¹ That includes companion animals, farm animals, wild animals and animal testing victims. This staggering fact means that less than 0.01% of cases of animal abuse are reported annually, making it difficult to get an exact estimation of how many animals die from abuse.³

Animal abuse by state

Anti-cruelty laws can vary by state, and even by city or county within the same state. So can the legal definition of what’s considered appropriate living conditions, abuse and neglect.

Thankfully, every state has felony provisions within its animal cruelty laws. All states, except Iowa, issue felony-level penalties for the first offense of animal torture.

Here are the top five best and worst states for animal protection laws.

Top 5 states for animal protection laws:

• Maine
• Illinois
• Oregon
• Colorado
• Rhode Island

Worst 5 states for animal protection laws:

• New Mexico
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Idaho
• Utah

Animal abuse in zoos statistics

Visiting a zoo is a great way to see wild, rare and exotic animals without having to travel to their natural habitat. Unfortunately, zoo animals sometimes aren’t suitable for a wild animal’s needs.

• There are only about 2,800 animal exhibitors in the U.S. that have United States Department of Agriculture licenses.¹⁰
• Fewer than 10% of the 2,800 animal exhibitors are accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Accreditation means the facility has met rigorous standards for animal care and quality of life.¹⁰
• More tigers are held in captivity in the United States (in zoos, as captive pets or for other entertainment purposes) than are in the wild.²

Circus animal abuse statistics

Animal neglect and abuse is known to occur in circuses, as trainers or circus workers may abuse the wild animals to get them to act in unnatural ways.

• Wild circus animals can spend up to 11 months out of the year in transit, locked in cages or shackled in chains.⁴
• Adult elephants can spend between 16 and 23 hours per day chained to concrete floors — even while giving birth. The babies are taken from their mothers and subjected to the same treatment to break their spirit, often with obvious wounds visible from trying to escape.⁶
• Since 1990, 126 big cat circus performers have died in captivity. Electric prods, bullhooks, whip sticks, shock collars, food deprivation and starvation are just a few of the tools trainers use to force animals to perform for humans.⁶

A research investigation by animal rights advocates Animal Defenders International found that bears in various circuses are forced to spend 90% of their day in a trailer, locked in a tiny cage. They average just 10 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on weekends outside their cells.

Although many countries have banned animals in circuses, the United States has yet to. The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act — which would ban animal use in circuses in the U.S. — has yet to pass federally.

Here’s some good news about circus animals:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have performed animal-based circus shows for over 150 years. However, sales dropped significantly in the 2010s, partially due to animal abuse allegations. The pandemic shuttered the circus but Ringling Bros. and Barnus & Bailey reopened in the fall of 2023 as an animal-free operation.

Animal shelter statistics

There are around 4,000 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the United States.³ Although intake has increased for some animals, animal transfers have decreased from 2022 to 2023. Here are some animal shelter facts and statistics to consider:

• Around 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters each year around the country.¹¹
• 3.2 million in shelters are cats, while 3.1 million are dogs.¹¹
• About 50% of U.S. shelters are no-kill.¹
• An estimated 4.1 million pets are adopted from shelters each year.¹¹

• Although owner surrenders for dogs decreased by 4%, stray intakes increased by 5% from the last quarter of 2022 to the last quarter of 2023.¹²

• Non-live outcomes (euthanized, died or lost in care) have increased by 30.9% for dogs in 2023 from 2022, while cat non-live outcomes have increased by 8.4% over the same period.¹²

How many dogs are euthanized each year?

Around 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized annually and 390,000 of those are dogs. Animal shelter euthanasia statistics show approximately 13% of dogs who enter shelters are euthanized, while 65% are adopted.¹¹

Animal shelter statistics by state

Shelter animal intake and euthanasia statistics can vary widely by state and territory. Here are some U.S. animal shelter statistics by state:

• Mississippi has the highest animal kill rate in shelters at around 18%.¹
• New Hampshire and Delaware are the only no-kill states.¹
• Five states — California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas — are responsible for 44% of shelter animal euthanasia annually.¹³
• Only 24 states ban gas chambers as a euthanasia method, despite the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) declaring lethal injection as the only humane euthanasia method.⁵

Pet adoption statistics

Pet adoption numbers have remained consistent since 2021, with almost 60% of shelter animals finding a home. Here are some more pet adoption facts and statistics.¹²

• Nearly 70% of cats in shelters from July to Sept. 2023 were adopted.
• Nearly 54% of dogs in shelters from July to Sept. 2023 were adopted.
• Adoptions increased by 5.8% in Jan. to Sept. 2023 versus the same period in 2021.

What is animal cruelty?

The definition of animal cruelty can differ by state, as can the prohibited actions and which animals receive legal protections. Anti-cruelty statutes typically only include companion domestic animals, though some state laws prevent “thrill killing” of wild animals. There may be different rules around livestock and hunting.

Types of animal cruelty

There are three main types of animal cruelty.

• Neglect is the most common type of animal cruelty. This is when an owner doesn’t provide necessary shelter, food, water and veterinary care for the animal or pet. The most visible sign of neglect is keeping an animal in a cage or having them tethered to a stationary object that restricts its movement for most hours of the day or full-time.
• Hoarding is a severe type of neglect and cruelty. This occurs when an owner hoards many animals, creating overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Hoarding leads to unsafe shelter and health conditions for the pet. It can lead to sickness, injury, starvation and death.
• Physical abuse is an intentional act that causes pain, suffering or death. Physical abuse can take many forms, including dragging, kicking, choking, burning, suffocating, mutilating, beating, stabbing and throwing. Sexual abuse can also occur, which includes lacerations, ligature, injury or severe distress to the animal’s genitals.

Warning signs of animal cruelty

Although specialized, formal training is desired, law enforcement, community members and animal control officers can identify cruelty and animal abuse cases by signs such as:

• Collar or harness embedded in the animal’s flesh.
• Cruelly confining the animal on a short tether, in a hot car or small cage.
• Inappropriate or cruel training methods, such as hitting, suspending the legs off the floor as punishment, forcing the animal to run next to a car, throwing it in water or weighing it down.
• Insufficient ventilation, space or lighting for the number of animals in the home.
• Lack of sanitation, including no access to clean food or water and feces or urine inside the home.
• Lack of veterinary care when injured, diseased or dying.
• No proper shelter in extreme weather.
• Poor physical condition or obvious signs of trauma, such as open sores, excessively dirty, foul smelling, emaciated or skinny, severely matted fur, excessive head scratching or shaking.

What is the punishment for animal cruelty?

The penalty for animal cruelty depends on the state in which the crime occurs. People convicted of animal cruelty as a first offense can face fines and jail time. They may also be required to undergo psychological treatment.

Pet insurance for rescue dogs

Pet insurance is a great way to pay for costly veterinary care when your rescue dog gets sick or injured. The best pet insurance for rescue dogs depends on their age, breed, and health status.

Pet insurance accident and illness plans can reimburse you for some of the following:

• Broken bones or fractures.
• Cancer and other diseases.
• Cuts and wounds.
• Gastrointestinal issues.
• Hospitalization.
• Illnesses.
• Infectious disease.
• Ingesting foreign objects.
• Lab testing and diagnostics.
• Poisoning.
• Some allergies.
• Some prescriptions.
• Surgery.

If your rescue dog has previous injuries or diseases, you may not be able to get reimbursed for it through pet insurance, as many pet insurance companies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.

If you purchase a wellness plan add-on to your pet insurance, it can cover the important following needs for your rescue dog.

• Blood and urine testing and analysis.
• Check-ups.
• Dental exams.
• Flea, tick and heartworm medications.
• Microchipping.
• Spay or neuter surgery.
• Vaccinations.

Comparing pet insurance quotes can help you determine which pet insurance company is the right choice for your rescue pet.

How to report animal abuse

Reporting animal abuse is the best way to prevent further suffering for animals facing cruelty. Learning how to report animal abuse anonymously online or by other methods can keep you safe while protecting the animal. However, having a credible witness that is willing to stand behind the report and potentially testify in court means the case is more likely to be investigated.

Take these steps to report someone for animal abuse:

• Document specific information. This includes things like dates, times, details, photographs or other evidence of the abuse so you can provide the correct information when reporting the abuse. Documentation can also help the appropriate authorities with their investigation, increasing the chances of the abuser being punished.
• If you witness animal abuse, call your local animal control agency or dial 911. You can also contact the Humane Society if your community isn’t equipped to handle animal or pet abuse cases or if local organizations aren’t available. Making a report for alleged animal cruelty requires the responding agency to investigate.
• Follow up if necessary. Try to learn if action has been taken and learn about the investigation progress. If you are sure no action is being taken, it may be worth contacting a supervisor or your local or state government official to discuss next steps.