Shelter Animals Count’s 2024 Annual Analysis comparing to 2023 and 2019 (pre-pandemic).
Understanding animal sheltering trends at the state level provides valuable insight into the challenges and progress in communities across the country. This interactive data page, based on Shelter Animals Count’s 2024 Year End Report, highlights key metrics such as average adoption and community intake numbers, along with organization counts by state. By exploring this data, we can better identify regional patterns, assess resource needs, and support data-driven solutions that improve outcomes for pets and people nationwide.
Understanding regional trends in animal sheltering helps identify broader patterns and challenges across the United States. In Shelter Animals Count’s 2024 Year End Report, we highlighted average adoptions, community intakes, and euthanasia rates across different regions. By examining sheltering data at a regional level, we can gain insights into geographic differences, resource distribution, and opportunities for targeted support. These trends provide a clearer picture of how animal welfare efforts vary across the country and help drive informed decision-making for shelters, rescues, and policymakers.
Published July 11, 2025
Shelter Animals Count published our Altered Status Data Report (2019–2023) — the first national report to analyze spay/neuter status at intake using exclusive animal-level data contributed by shelters and rescues across the country.
This five-year analysis covers over 2.2 million dogs and cats across 47 states, offering the clearest picture yet of how sterilization trends show up at the shelter door — and what they mean for operations, length of stay, and community needs.
The 2024 Year End Report Webinar covered key sheltering trends from the past year, with a focus on new data by organization type, length of stay trends, and upcoming resources for the industry. This year’s discussion highlighted the differences in intake and adoption trends among government-funded shelters, private shelters, and rescues, as well as the continued challenges with length of stay, particularly for dogs.