Facts and Statistics on Dog and pet abuse
New Statistics
- Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter
animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million
to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of
cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those
animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal
control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia
may vary from state to state.
- According to the National Council
on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of
cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners.
Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.
- Twenty-five percent of dogs who
enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)
- Only 10 percent of the animals
received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent
of owned pets are neutered.
- The majority of pets are obtained
from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of
dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 20 percent of cats and
dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. (Source: Ralston Purina
and NCPPSP)
- More than 20 percent of people who
leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)
- Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in
shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.
- About 63 percent of all households in the United States have
a pet. (Source: American Veterinary Medical Association)
- About 75 million dogs and about 85
million cats are owned in the United States. (Source: Pet Food
Institute)
- According to the National Council
on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), about 65 percent of pet
owners acquire their pets free or at low cost.
- The majority of pets are obtained
from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of
dogs are purchased from breeders, 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs
are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 to 10 percent are
purchased from pet shops. (Source: Ralston Purina and NCPPSP)
- At least 20 percent of cats are
acquired as strays. (Source: NCPPSP) Many strays are lost pets who
were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
- More than 20 percent of people who
leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)
- The cost of spaying and neutering
a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for one
year.
- The average cost of basic food,
supplies, medical care and training for a dog or cat is $700 to $875
annually.
- About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.
- It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats
live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70
million.
- The average number of litters a
fertile cat produces is one to two a year; average number of kittens
is 4-6 per litter.
- The average number of litters a
fertile dog produces is one a year; average number of puppies is
4-6.
- Owned cats and dogs generally live
longer, healthier lives than strays.
- Most strays are lost pets who were
not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
- Only ten percent of the animals
received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent
of owned pets are neutered.
- The cost of spaying or neutering a
pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for a year.
- Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in
shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.