accord to new data from Best Friends Animal Society , American protection save 3.9 million dogs and cats in 2020 , reducing the bit of animals killed by 44.5 percentage .

It turns out 2020 did have a bright spot : room , way fewer pawl and cats were killed in American animal shelters last year .

In fact , shelter across the state experienced their biggest annual reduction in euthanized dogs and cats , according to new information free by Best Friends Animal Society . It reported that American protection kill roughly 347,000 dogs and cat in 2020 - a 44.5 - per centum driblet from 2019 when 625,000 were euthanized .

Woman and her son hold a white and grey kitten

Photo: chendongshan / Getty

In a newsworthiness handout , Best Friends manoeuvre to several reasons for such a decline . Many pets were fostered or adopted during theCOVID-19 pandemic , keeping fauna from entering shelters in the first spot . ( In fact , more than 1 million fewer dogs and cats fail into shelters compare to 2019 . ) For cats , city ' and counties’trap - neuter - tax return ( TNR ) programsprevented additional outdoor guy from arriving at shelter .

" This was a monumental class for cat and dogs in America ’s shelters , " Best Friends CEO Julie Castle said in the release . " We saw community of interests , shelters , and individuals step up for animals in way we could n’t have imagined , and now we are closer than ever before to attain our destination of no - putting to death by 2025 . "

Its data accounts for about 93 pct of shelters in the United States . In all , 3.9 million of the 4.26 million dogs and bozo who entered shelters last year were saved ( 83 percent ) . A save pace of 90 per centum is necessary to think a shelter or province " no - kill , " engage into account the or so 10 pct of animals whose irreparable aesculapian or behavioural issues require humanist euthanization .

lamentably , about 950 cats and dogs are euthanized day by day across the country because of lack of space , Castle says . Cats are down more than double as frequently as dog , even though about 5 percentage more dogs get in shelter , Best Friends reports .

" This year ’s progress has been exceptional , from what we have seen with residential area livelihood and involvement and the lifesaving numbers as a result , " Castle adds . " It is crucial that we establish on this momentum to keep pets out of tax shelter and in lie with home where they belong to . This is how we will get to no - kill . "

Two States Reach No-Kill Status

New Hampshire has bring together Delaware as the twain of states reach the 90 - pct no - kill threshold , the news release says . accord to Best Friends ' data point , two other northeast states hardly missed out . If Rhode Island had save 18 other dogs and cats , it would ’ve made it . Vermont was 53 animals unforesightful .

On the other end of the list , the most animals were euthanized in the land ’s two most populous land : Texas ( 52,106 ) and California ( 39,111 ) . you’re able to see how well your state didhere .

In all , Best Friends report that 48 pct of the Carry Nation ’s animal shelter have earned no - killing status . require to do your part to help your shelter or state reach no - kill status ? check out out our adoption guides for dogs andcatsand bring your own furry protagonist base .