Shelter Animals Count (SAC) has released its 2026 Mid-Year Data Summary, providing a look at U.S. sheltering trends for the first half of the year. The report revealed:
- 3.7 million cats and dogs entered U.S. shelters and rescues, a 2% increase compared to the first half of 2025.
- Cat intake increased 3.5%, while dog intake remained relatively stable.
- 213,000 more animals entered shelters and rescues than left through adoption, transfer, reunification, or another outcome, creating population pressures.
- Cat adoptions increased 2.1% from 2025 and 13.2% compared to 2016, marking the strongest mid-year cat adoption performance in more than a decade.
- Dog adoptions remained below 2016 levels, and adult dogs accounted for 66% of all dogs in shelters, resulting in a backlog of adult dogs requiring ongoing care.
To help veterinary and animal welfare organizations track these trends, SAC launched a new interactive online dashboard that allows users to analyze 10 years of shelter data by region, species, and age group.
Christa Chadwick, senior vice president of shelter services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), noted that tracking this data is vital for understanding ongoing capacity issues, specifically highlighting the “continued challenges with moving dogs out of care and into loving homes.”