Chicago Animal Shelter Statistics 2025
Chicago Animal Care and Control · Illinois · Reporting period 2025
Last updated:
Source: City of Chicago Data Portal — CACC ↗✓ Last verified November 3, 2026
Figures are based on the most recent publicly available reports and are subject to verification. Intake (cats & dogs), adoptions, transfers and euthanasia (excluding owner-requested) are from Chicago Animal Care and Control official data. Return-to-owner is preliminary.
- Intake
- 17,788
- Adoptions
- 3,627
- Euthanasia
- 2,151
- 12.1% of intake
- live outcome rate
- 86.9%
- National: 82%
Outcomes, 2025
| Metric | Count | Share of intake |
|---|---|---|
| Total intakeVerified | 17,788 | 100% |
| AdoptionsVerified | 3,627 | 20% |
| Returned to ownerPreliminary | 1,800 | 10% |
| Transferred to partnersVerified | 8,847 | 50% |
| Total live outcomesPreliminary | 14,274 | 80% |
| EuthanasiaVerified | 2,151 | 12.1% |
| live outcome ratePreliminaryCalculated by SaveAPaw from the figures above | 86.9% | State calc. (tracked): 86.9% |
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
CACC relies heavily on rescue partner transfers; transfers make up nearly half of its live outcomes. In 2025, Chicago Animal Care and Control reported 17,788 animal intakes and 14,274 live outcomes, for a calculated live outcome rate of 86.9% — above the 82% national estimate.
The most common way animals left the shelter alive was transfer to rescue partners, accounting for 62% of live outcomes. Adoptions made up 25%, transfers 62% and returns to owner 13%.
2,151 animals were euthanized, equal to 12.1% of intake. Among the 10 shelters SaveAPaw tracks, Chicago ranks #6 by headline outcome rate, below the commonly used 90% no-kill benchmark. Figures come from City of Chicago Data Portal — CACC and were last verified on November 3, 2026; see the source for Illinois reporting definitions. Intake (cats & dogs), adoptions, transfers and euthanasia (excluding owner-requested) are from Chicago Animal Care and Control official data. Return-to-owner is preliminary.
Frequently asked questions
- How many animals does Chicago Animal Care and Control take in each year?
- Chicago Animal Care and Control reported 17,788 animal intakes in 2025.
- What is the live outcome rate in Chicago?
- 86.9% in 2025, calculated from 14,274 live outcomes and 2,151 euthanasias. This rate uses some preliminary figures and is subject to verification.
- Is Chicago a no-kill shelter?
- Not by the common 90% benchmark. Its 2025 live outcome rate was 86.9%.
- How many animals were euthanized in Chicago?
- 2,151 in 2025, about 12.1% of intake.
- Where does this data come from?
- City of Chicago Data Portal — CACC. SaveAPaw last verified these figures on November 3, 2026.