Denver Animal Shelter Statistics 2025
Denver Animal Protection · Colorado · Reporting period 2025
Last updated:
Source: City of Denver Animal Protection — Materials & Colorado PACFA Data ↗✓ Last verified November 3, 2026
Figures are based on the most recent publicly available reports and are subject to verification. Intake (~9,859–10,000), adoptions (4,233) and the ~18% dog euthanasia rate are from City of Denver Animal Protection materials and Colorado PACFA data reported in local coverage. Return-to-owner, transfers and the total euthanasia count are preliminary and do not yet reconcile with the verified dog euthanasia rate.
- Intake
- 9,859–10,000
- Adoptions
- 4,233
- Euthanasia
- 520
- 5.3% of intake
- live outcome rate
- 93.8%
- National: 82%
Outcomes, 2025
| Metric | Count | Share of intake |
|---|---|---|
| Total intakeVerified | 9,859–10,000 | 100% |
| AdoptionsVerified | 4,233 | 43% |
| Returned to ownerPreliminary | 2,195 | 22% |
| Transferred to partnersPreliminary | 1,400 | 14% |
| Total live outcomesPreliminary | 7,828 | 79% |
| EuthanasiaPreliminary | 520 | 5.3% |
| Dog euthanasia rate (of dogs taken in)Verified | ~18% | — |
| live outcome ratePreliminaryCalculated by SaveAPaw from the figures above | 93.8% | State calc. (tracked): 93.8% |
Additional outcome figures are preliminary and will be updated when official reports are confirmed.
Data period 2025 · Last verified November 3, 2026 · View official source ↗
What the numbers mean
Denver Animal Protection returns a large share of intake to owners, helped by licensing and microchip programs. In 2025, Denver Animal Protection reported 9,859–10,000 animal intakes and 7,828 live outcomes, for a calculated live outcome rate of 93.8% — above the 82% national estimate.
The most common way animals left the shelter alive was adoption, accounting for 54% of live outcomes. Adoptions made up 54%, transfers 18% and returns to owner 28%.
520 animals were euthanized, equal to 5.3% of intake. Among the 10 shelters SaveAPaw tracks, Denver ranks #3 by headline outcome rate and meets the commonly used 90% no-kill benchmark. Figures come from City of Denver Animal Protection — Materials & Colorado PACFA Data and were last verified on November 3, 2026; see the source for Colorado reporting definitions. Intake (~9,859–10,000), adoptions (4,233) and the ~18% dog euthanasia rate are from City of Denver Animal Protection materials and Colorado PACFA data reported in local coverage. Return-to-owner, transfers and the total euthanasia count are preliminary and do not yet reconcile with the verified dog euthanasia rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How many animals does Denver Animal Protection take in each year?
- Denver Animal Protection reported 9,859–10,000 animal intakes in 2025.
- What is the live outcome rate in Denver?
- 93.8% in 2025, calculated from 7,828 live outcomes and 520 euthanasias. This rate uses some preliminary figures and is subject to verification.
- Is Denver a no-kill shelter?
- Yes — its 2025 live outcome rate of 93.8% meets the commonly used 90% benchmark.
- How many animals were euthanized in Denver?
- 520 in 2025, about 5.3% of intake. This figure is preliminary.
- Where does this data come from?
- City of Denver Animal Protection — Materials & Colorado PACFA Data. SaveAPaw last verified these figures on November 3, 2026.