Shocking Facts About How Many Dogs are Euthanized

Do you want to know how many dogs are euthanized each year? Dogs are euthanized for several reasons, including severe medical conditions and aggressive behavior. When the dogs become very aggressive and uncontrollable, they pose a threat to other animals and humans, making it important to euthanize them for public safety.

But the most disturbing fact is that many of the healthy dogs are also euthanized as the animal shelters are becoming overpopulated. With limited shelter space, it becomes impossible to adopt all the dogs. As a result, they are euthanized to manage their population. These dogs could be adopted by new families or transferred to animal rescue centers. Even in cities like San Francisco, which have become no-kill cities, shelters euthanize 10% of their dogs.

So, if you want to contribute to stopping the euthanization of dogs, adopt them and provide them with a loving home.

We bring to you the most shocking details about how many dogs are euthanized each year and what can be done to stop this practice.

Most Disturbing Statistics About Animal Euthanization

• Pit Bulls are the most euthanized dog breed in shelters. 35% of animal shelters have reported taking in one or more pit bulls daily. Pit Bulls are high-risk shelter animals that mainly face euthanasia due to their breed. 75% of shelters euthanize these dogs just after intake, meaning they don’t even get the chance to find a loving family or home.
• 52% of Shelters in the US are kill shelters, meaning they can euthanize animals for severe behavioral or medical issues or the animal’s well-being. The remaining 48% of shelters in the US can’t euthanize animals and have to keep them until they find a new home.
• The number of pet animals that enter US animal shelters is approximately 6.3 million annually. Of those, around 3.2 million are cats, and 3.1 million are dogs. Approximately 3.9 million dogs entered animal shelters in 2011. But this number has declined to 3.1 million from 3.9 million.
• Of the total number of animals that enter the shelter as strays, 810,000 are returned to their owners. Of those, 100,000 are cats, and 710,000 are dogs. This helps the dogs live in a loving and safe environment and prevents the shelter homes from overpopulating.
• If you’re wondering how many dogs are euthanized each year, then the data can be shocking. 9 out of 10 animals that enter shelter homes are euthanized without any medical or behavioral issues. These animals do not have any life-threatening conditions and are only euthanized because the shelter homes do not have enough space to accommodate them. They are adaptable but do not get the opportunity to find a new home, as they are euthanized as soon as they enter the shelters.
• Illegal puppy mills often use inhumane methods to eliminate unwanted or ill dogs. At such places, mother dogs have to live in cramped cages throughout their lives without any personal attention. When the father and mother dogs can’t breed, they are killed or abandoned.
• Pet problems like aggressive behaviors, severe health issues, and excessive growth are the main reasons why most owners rehome their pets. This accounts for approximately 42% of rehomed cats and 47% of rehomed dogs.
• From January to July 2023, approximately 51,000 dogs were euthanized. There has been a 37% increase in the dog euthanization rate from the same period in 2022, which is quite alarming.
• Around 7,887 people who bought puppies from breeders and puppy mills over fifteen years made complaints about the pathetic condition of these facilities. These people complained that the dogs in these facilities are confined to small cages and live in overcrowded, dirty conditions that can lead to lots of health issues. Some dogs had missing fur and open wounds, showcasing the pathetic condition of these facilities and how the animals are treated here.
• In the US, around 7,000+ illegal puppy mills have millions of dogs unaccounted for. The primary goal of these puppy mills is profit and not the welfare of the dogs, which raises questions about the existence and functioning of these facilities.

Are Humane Societies the Same Thing as Animal Shelters?

There are two main organizations that people turn to for rescuing animals: human societies and animal shelters. They are not the same, as they serve different purposes and work differently.

Let’s take a look at the differences between these animal rescue organizations:

• Humane societies in every city, country, or state are independent and follow their own rules and regulations regarding animal rescue and their care. These shelters take in stray dogs and the owner surrenders. Animal control organizations or local governments run animal shelters, and their main purpose is to take in abused, homeless, or neglected animals and help them find loving homes.
• Human societies often provide many other services, like advocacy and education programs, pet adoption services, and spay/neuter clinics. These societies work to promote humane treatment through advocacy and education. Animal shelters do not provide these additional services.
• The Humane Society ensures that all animals, regardless of their species, are treated with respect and compassion. Animal shelters do not have any such goals in their mind.

Animal Shelter Statistics

• Around 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized every year. Out of those, 530,000 are cats, and 390,000 are dogs. The cat and dog euthanization rate has declined in U.S. shelters from around 2.6 million in 2011 due to the increase in the animal adoption percentage and the successful return of stray animals to their owners.
• Approximately 35 states have proper laws in place about how long an animal should stay in the shelter before authorizing euthanasia. But only a few of the animal shelters follow these rules.
• In 2003, animal euthanasia was banned in Costa Rica as a way of population control. With this, Costa Rica became the first country in the USA to implement such a rule for the welfare of the animals.
• Animal shelters take in around 6.3 million dogs and cats annually, housing them in several facilities. Out of these, 58.7 % are adopted, and 10.8% of these animals get reunited with their owners. Some animal rights groups have different opinions regarding this, as they have claimed that 40% of shelter animals are euthanized as soon as they enter the facility because of insufficient space to accommodate them.
• Over 2,000 rescue organizations and individual shelters are registered within the United States. Many of the rescue organizations in the US are also working without any proper registration, which can be harmful to the well-being of animals.
• Up to 40% of animals die in shelter care or are euthanized due to lack of funding and space. This problem can only be resolved if more and more people come together to adopt these pet animals.
• Around 16.7% of animals that are euthanized in animal shelters are approximately 5 months old, and the age of 19.4% of animals is unknown.
• The average age of animals that enter the shelters is around 18 months.
• 36% of Americans rehome their dogs by taking them to shelters. This trend is rising because it is easy to get rid of pet animals at the shelters as these facilities easily take them.
• From 2019 to 2020, the rate of stray animals entering shelters declined by 5.8%. This may have been because of the increased animal adoption rate over this period.

Dog Euthanasia Statistics

• Each year, Americans pay approximately $1.5 billion for animal control and management, including euthanasia. This money could be used for many noble causes like the eradication of poverty and the education of students.
• In 1971, more than 110,000 animals were euthanized by the Los Angeles shelter alone. This estimates the euthanization of around 300 animals per day on average.
• For those worried about how many dogs are euthanized each year, the estimate can be shocking. It is estimated that a hundred million animals are euthanized regardless of legality every year.
• Last year, the highest rate of animal euthanasia was recorded in California. Before this, Texas was declared as the state with the highest animal euthanasia rate.
• Over 50% of dogs that enter the animal shelters in the UK are not neutered or spayed. Because of this, every year, over two million puppies are born, and 600,000 of them die even before reaching the age of one.
• Over 50% of dogs that enter UK animal shelters are estimated to be crossbred. Unlike the pedigree dogs, these animals don’t find homes easily as their breed is not considered to be top-quality, and people who come to adopt the dogs at the shelters show less interest in them.
• 60% of animal lovers said that they would consider rehoming the pet animals, while 34% of them said they would consider euthanasia for these animals rather than rehoming them.
• In around four days, the dog shelters become full. Many animal shelters have thousands of dogs and cats in need of homes. So, for those wondering about how many dogs are euthanized each year in shelters, the number can be quite high because these animal shelters have become overpopulated, and they can’t accommodate the number of pets that are abandoned daily by their owners.
• More than 8,000 calls are received by animal shelters from pet lovers looking to adopt a pet, but only a few of them take home these animals. The common reasons these animals are not adopted include health issues and behavioral problems.
• Most animal shelters worldwide do not have enough resources and funding available to take care of the animals. Because of this, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized annually.
• Most owners abandon their pet animals because they have to move overseas or move their homes. If the conditions in the new home are not favorable or the space is less for pet-keeping, the pet animal ends up at a shelter.

What Can We Do to Help?

Let’s look at ways we can contribute to reducing dog euthanization.

• Breeding too many puppies can lead to many dogs entering the shelter system. If you have a dog and you don’t want puppies, then you must get your dog sprayed. Remember, if your dog gives birth to many puppies, you won’t be able to take care of all of them, and at one point or the other, you’ll abandon them. Because of this, they might go to homes that are not suitable for them. They might be neglected or mistreated, or the new owner might be unable to cope. In all these cases, they will be given to a shelter.
• If you want puppies from your dogs, you should ensure they will be able to find loving homes. It would be best if you never rehomed to the first person interested in adopting them. Ask a few questions to determine how loving and caring the person will be towards the puppies. If the person doesn’t seem to be an animal lover or doesn’t have the required resources to keep the puppies happy, keep the puppies yourself until you find a good owner.
• Another significant step that can be taken by those worried about how many dogs are euthanized each year is to get your pet from any of the shelters in your area. Refrain from buying the pets from breeders. Shelters have all kinds of dogs with different temperaments and natures. By adopting a dog from the shelter, you’re reducing the chances of the dogs getting euthanized due to insufficient space or resources needed by the shelter homes to accommodate them.
• Donate to the animal shelter homes in your area so that they can take care of the animals in a better way. Many of these shelter homes do not have sufficient funds to operate, so you can play a vital role in the well-being of the dogs by donating to these facilities.

Animal Shelter Statistics & Facts

• The United Kingdom has implemented the strictest animal rights laws in the entire world. Those who are found to indulge in unauthorized euthanasia are punished with jail time, a hefty fine, and a lifetime animal ownership ban.
• 35 states have implemented strict rules about how long the shelter should keep an animal before authorizing euthanasia. The states with such laws have specified that the minimum holding periods for these animals should range from 48 hours to 10 days.
• SAC data has revealed a shocking fact. It has been reported that 4% more pet animals enter animal shelter homes than those left in 2022. In the past 4 years, this is the largest gap. This is mainly because many owners abandoned their pets. After all, they moved to a new place or couldn’t care for these animals because of their busy schedules.
• There is very little information available about animal euthanasia because few states have mandated shelter homes to keep records of the animals they euthanize. In control and animal rescue groups, there is no reporting system to keep a check on the number of animals that are euthanized.

Conclusion

Dog euthanization is one of the most inhumane practices that needs to be stopped. Many animal shelters euthanize dogs because they have severe medical conditions and behavioral issues and can pose a threat to other animals and humans. However, many of the healthy dogs are also euthanized because the shelters are not able to accommodate them or do not have enough resources to take care of them.

If you’re worried about how many dogs are euthanized each year and want to stop this practice, you must adopt dogs and get your dog sprayed so that their population can be controlled. You can also check out the shocking facts mentioned above if you want to know how many dogs are euthanized each year in shelters.

This will help you act responsibly towards the animals and make you rethink if you have decided to abandon your dog.