State Level Data - 2024
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.
SAC’s national dataset is a combination of actual and estimated intake and outcome numbers for cats and dogs derived from organization-level data reported to Shelter Animals Count from over 6,000 organizations. Accuracy of estimated data is highest at national aggregation. State-level data has a higher level of uncertainty and is intended for general informational use only.
Methodology:
Average Adoptions = Total adoptions in the state / Total # of organizations in the state
Average Community Intakes = Total community intakes in the state / Total # of organizations in the state
Adoptions per capita = Total adoptions / State population *1,000
Community intakes per capita = Total community intakes / State population *1,000
Non-live outcomes per capita = Total non-live outcomes / State population *1,000
For additional state data, please visit our State Animal Welfare Statistics dashboard.
Alaska
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 109
Cats – 165
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 221
Cats – 266
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 43
Shelters – 24
Rescues – 19
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.1
Community Intakes – 25.4
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.9
Alabama
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 210
Cats – 166
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 360
Cats – 264
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 220
Shelters – 91
Rescues – 129
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.4
Community Intakes – 24.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.2
Arkansas
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 176
Cats – 149
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 254
Cats – 206
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 202
Shelters – 99
Rescues – 103
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 19.7
Community Intakes – 28.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.4
Arizona
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 190
Cats – 173
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 248
Cats – 225
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 386
Shelters – 83
Rescues – 303
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 19.7
Community Intakes – 28.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.4
California
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 176
Cats – 214
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 287
Cats – 263
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 1,634
Shelters – 293
Rescues – 1,341
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.6
Community Intakes – 17.8
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.7
Colorado
Average Adoptions:
Dog – 199
Cats – 304
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 296
Cats – 391
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 300
Shelters – 98
Rescues – 202
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 18.5
Community Intakes – 25.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.8
Connecticut
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 83
Cats – 101
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 113
Cats – 155
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 204
Shelters -88
Rescues – 116
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 8.3
Community Intakes – 12.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.6
District of Columbia
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 453
Cats – 1,231
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 681
Cats – 1,540
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 13
Shelters – 3
Rescues – 10
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 19.8
Community Intakes – 27.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.5
Delaware
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 188
Cats – 311
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 167
Cats – 313
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 37
Shelters – 6
Rescues – 31
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 15.7
Community Intakes – 15.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.5
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 188
Cats – 311
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 167
Cats – 313
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 37
Shelters – 6
Rescues – 31
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 15.7
Community Intakes – 15.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.5
Florida
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 178
Cats – 280
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 205
Cats – 398
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 796
Shelters – 143
Rescues – 653
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.4
Community Intakes – 16.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.7
Georgia
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 189
Cats – 225
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 280
Cats – 298
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 404
Shelters – 117
Rescues – 287
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.5
Community Intakes – 17.6
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.2
Hawaii
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 295
Cats – 415
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 437
Cats – 690
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 30
Shelters – 8
Rescues – 22
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 10.7
Community Intakes – 16.9
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.8
Iowa
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 192
Cats – 295
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 273
Cats – 391
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 102
Shelters – 65
Rescues – 37
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 16.9
Community Intakes – 23.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.8
Idaho
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 182
Cats – 270
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 266
Cats – 372
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 89
Shelters – 41
Rescues – 48
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 18.6
Community Intakes – 26.4
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.5
Illinois
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 147
Cats – 225
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 150
Cats – 244
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 417
Shelters – 98
Rescues – 319
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 9.2
Community Intakes – 9.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.3
Indiana
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 160
Cats – 250
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 222
Cats – 342
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 271
Shelters – 92
Rescues – 179
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 13.2
Community Intakes – 18.2
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.3
Kansas
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 207
Cats – 241
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 344
Cats – 344
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 163
Shelters – 105
Rescues – 58
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 23.4
Community Intakes – 36.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.9
Kentucky
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 184
Cats – 207
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 319
Cats – 322
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 242
Shelters – 114
Rescues – 128
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 18.9
Community Intakes – 31.2
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.5
Louisiana
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 176
Cats – 221
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 336
Cats – 429
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting -200
Shelters – 76
Rescues – 124
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.1
Community Intakes – 27.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.1
Maine
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 100
Cats – 351
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 113
Cats – 384
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 55
Shelters – 21
Rescues – 34
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.9
Community Intakes – 14.2
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.0
Maryland
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 137
Cats – 334
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 188
Cats – 436
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 201
Shelters – 33
Rescues – 168
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 10.8
Community Intakes – 14.3
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.9
Massachusetts
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 117
Cats – 274
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 96
Cats – 234
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 157
Shelters – 51
Rescues – 106
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 6.3
Community Intakes – 5.3
Non-Live Outcomes – 0.5
Michigan
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 131
Cats – 202
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 195
Cats -254
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 341
Shelters – 97
Rescues – 244
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 8.8
Community Intakes – 11.9
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.5
Minnesota
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 179
Cats – 302
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 223
Cats – 358
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 245
Shelters – 101
Rescues – 144
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 16.9
Community Intakes – 20.5
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.5
Mississippi
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 191
Cats – 163
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 285
Cats – 236
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 122
Shelters – 63
Rescues – 59
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.8
Community Intakes – 21.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.8
Missouri
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 196
Cats – 237
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 317
Cats – 339
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 340
Shelters – 178
Rescues – 162
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 21.9
Community Intakes – 33.3
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.5
Montana
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 175
Cats – 241
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 300
Cats – 331
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 60
Shelters – 38
Rescues – 22
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 22.3
Community Intakes – 34.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.6
Nebraska
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 182
Cats – 263
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 310
Cats – 380
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 105
Shelters – 57
Rescues – 48
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 20.5
Community Intakes – 32.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.3
Nevada
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 183
Cats – 277
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 308
Cats – 420
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 142
Shelters – 38
Rescues – 104
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions: 14.8
Community Intakes: 23.8
Non-Live Outcomes: 2.8
New Hampshire
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 107
Cats – 369
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 86
Cats – 315
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 55
Shelters – 20
Rescues – 35
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.4
Community Intakes – 10.4
Non-Live Outcomes – 0.7
New Jersey
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 97
Cats – 194
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 103
Cats – 243
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 390
Shelters – 77
Rescues – 313
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 8.3
Community Intakes – 9.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.1
New Mexico
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 262
Cats – 264
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 511
Cats – 441
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 118
Shelters – 60
Rescues – 58
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 28.2
Community Intakes – 51.6
Non-Live Outcomes – 9.0
New York
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 111
Cats – 219
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 119
Cats – 241
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 591
Shelters – 152
Rescues – 439
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 7.3
Community Intakes – 7.9
Non-Live Outcomes – 0.8
North Carolina
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 163
Cats – 206
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 217
Cats – 259
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 460
Shelters – 100
Rescues – 360
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.7
Community Intakes – 16.4
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.3
North Dakota
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 139
Cats – 220
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 196
Cats – 254
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 35
Shelters – 15
Rescues – 20
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 16.8
Community Intakes – 21.2
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.1
Ohio
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 157
Cats – 247
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 190
Cats – 248
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 427
Shelters – 113
Rescues – 314
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 10.9
Community Intakes – 12.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.3
Oklahoma
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 178
Cats – 167
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 300
Cats – 254
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 248
Shelters – 119
Rescues – 129
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 19.9
Community Intakes – 32.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 4.9
Oregon
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 137
Cats – 254
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 182
Cats – 304
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 184
Shelters – 50
Rescues – 134
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.5
Community Intakes – 15.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.4
Pennsylvania
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 129
Cats – 260
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 135
Cats – 304
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 464
Shelters – 107
Rescues – 357
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 9.6
Community Intakes – 10.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.1
Rhode Island
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 96
Cats – 188
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 123
Cats – 237
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 56
Shelters – 22
Rescues – 34
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 10.7
Community Intakes – 13.7
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.5
South Carolina
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 201
Cats – 209
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 307
Cats – 315
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 222
Shelters – 62
Rescues – 160
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 13.7
Community Intakes – 20.8
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.6
South Dakota
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 141
Cats – 164
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 224
Cats – 256
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 41
Shelters – 24
Rescues – 17
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 16.3
Community Intakes – 25.6
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.8
Tennessee
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 188
Cats – 198
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 272
Cats – 265
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 374
Shelters – 125
Rescues – 249
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 17.0
Community Intakes – 23.8
Non-Live Outcomes -2.9
Texas
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 237
Cats – 238
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 282
Cats – 394
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 1,195
Shelters – 383
Rescues – 812
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.7
Community Intakes – 24.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 3.4
Utah
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 149
Cats – 254
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 234
Cats – 371
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 137
Shelters – 69
Rescues – 68
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 14.7
Community Intakes – 22.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.5
Vermont
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 89
Cats – 214
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 64
Cats – 176
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 47
Shelters – 14
Rescues – 33
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 16.2
Community Intakes – 12.6
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.1
Virginia
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 165
Cats – 254
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 221
Cats – 264
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 380
Shelters – 70
Rescues – 310
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 18.5
Community Intakes – 20.0
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.5
Washington
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 158
Cats – 309
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 193
Cats – 317
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 260
Shelters – 65
Rescues – 195
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.0
Community Intakes – 13.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.3
West Virginia
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 183
Cats – 198
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 264
Cats – 259
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 88
Shelters – 37
Rescues – 51
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 17.1
Community Intakes – 23.5
Non-Live Outcomes – 2.6
Wisconsin
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 145
Cats – 333
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 188
Cats – 399
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 12.6
Community Intakes – 15.5
Non-Live Outcomes – 1.8
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 184
Shelters – 67
Rescues -117
Wyoming
Average Adoptions:
Dogs – 172
Cats – 241
Average Community Intakes:
Dogs – 280
Cats – 344
State Data:
Number of Orgs Reporting – 50
Shelters – 38
Rescues – 12
Per Capita Data:
Adoptions – 33.7
Community Intakes – 51.1
Non-Live Outcomes – 6.4