Why are dogs in shelters? There are many reasons for dogs to be in shelters. This included pets being abandoned due to living expenses, having no time to take care of them, housing rules, etc. However this population doesn’t account for all animals in shelters. Stray animals are also impounded in order to find these domesticated animals a home.

Stray pets are pets who are found on the street. These pets are those who have lost their homes due causes like owners leaving a window/door open, losing their homes due to natural disasters, etc. According to the article “No “Easy Answer” to Growing Number of Stray Dogs In The U.S., Advocate Says” by Samantha Raphelson “In Houston, Texas, alone, there are more than 1 million stray dogs, according to the city’s pet shelter, BARC. After Hurricane Harvey hit this summer, thousands of dogs were rescued from floodwaters.” Yes this is only accounting for one area, specifically Houston, Texas, but it’s impossible to count how many strays there are in the world. It is worth noting that according to the ASPCA “About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners.” Stray pets aren’t the end of the list. Pets who are impounded due to animal rescue/control must also be accounted for.

According to The Humane Society The estimated number of rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America is 10,000 (number found in 2014. There are no statistics based on how many pets are impounded due to animal cruelty however it’s not a far-fetched to assume it is a big number that contributes to pets being in shelters.