Methodology & data sources

National figures, 2025

National figures are an estimate published by the source above and are not the sum of the shelters we track.

Verified vs. preliminary data

Verified Verified

The figure has been checked against the shelter's or agency's official published report for the stated year. The "last verified" date shows when we checked it.

Preliminary Preliminary

The figure is based on the most recent publicly available information but has not yet been confirmed against the official report. It may change.

Agency-published rates

When a shelter publishes its own save rate or live release rate, we show that figure as the headline rate instead of recalculating it. These rates are marked with an asterisk (*) in the homepage ranking table — see "Published rates vs. calculated rates" below.

Ranges

Where a source supports only a range (e.g. Houston euthanasia), we show the range and the resulting range of rates, and mark it preliminary.

Calculated rates

A rate (live outcome rate, euthanasia rate) is only marked verified when every figure used to calculate it is verified. If any input is preliminary, the rate is preliminary.

Each city page tags every row of its outcomes table. Status by location is listed in the source table below.

Published rates vs. calculated rates

Every page shows one headline outcome rate, and it comes from one of two places:

• Published by the shelter — marked with an asterisk (*) in the homepage ranking table and labeled "Published by [agency]" on the city page. We show the agency's own figure, often called a save rate or live release rate, rather than recalculating it, because agencies may use their own definitions — for example excluding owner-requested euthanasia, or counting only animals in their own care.
• Calculated by SaveAPaw — no asterisk, and labeled "Calculated by SaveAPaw" on the city page. We apply the formula below to the outcome counts the shelter reports, so the result is comparable across the shelters we track.

Because the two use different definitions, a published rate and a calculated rate are not always directly comparable. The asterisk is the signal to check the source's own definition before comparing two shelters.

Tracked shelters that publish their own rate: San Diego — ~91% live release rate; Austin — ~95% live outcome rate; Phoenix (Maricopa County) — 94.2% save rate; Philadelphia — 86–87% live release rate; Seattle — 85%+ live outcome rate.

How live outcome rate is calculated

Live outcome rate = (Adoptions + Returned to owner + Transfers) ÷ (Adoptions + Returned to owner + Transfers + Euthanasia)

Example: a shelter with 70 adoptions, 10 returns, 10 transfers and 10 euthanasias has a live outcome rate of 90 ÷ 100 = 90%. A rate of 90% or higher is the commonly used "no-kill" benchmark.

Euthanasia rate is euthanasia ÷ intake. State totals add up only the shelters we track in that state. This formula produces the calculated rates — the ones without an asterisk; where a shelter publishes its own rate, we show that figure instead.

Definitions

Intake

Dogs and cats taken in during the reporting year (strays, owner surrenders, seizures, transfers in).

Adoption

An animal placed in a new home directly by the shelter.

Returned to owner

A lost animal reunited with its owner.

Transfer

An animal moved to another shelter or rescue partner.

Euthanasia

Includes owner-requested euthanasia where the source does not separate it.

Sources by location

Limitations

Shelters define categories differently and report on calendar or fiscal years. Compare locations with care, and always consult the linked source for exact figures.