
Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. (Source: APPA).(Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA)) Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States.These are national estimates based on data obtained from shelters and rescues the figures may vary from state to state. *These estimates are based in part on Shelter Animals Count data and other known and estimated sources, 2019.

About 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners.


Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S.These are national estimates the figures may vary from state to state. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. The terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States.
