Fewer Dog Transfers Between Organizations
Yet Another Troubling Symptom of Post-Pandemic Shelter Crisis

Saturation of Canines in Communities Across U.S. Leaves Dogs Fewer Transfer Options

ATLANTA, GA, 8/17/2023 – Shelter Animals Count (SAC), the most trusted and current source for animal sheltering data, notes a concerning trend in their Q2 data which shows a decrease in transfers of animals between shelters. Transfers between organizations and communities play a vital role in enabling a balanced distribution of animals and alleviating overcrowding. As dog adoptions are down for rescues and private shelters compared to both 2021 and 2022, their total outcomes are down — likely leading to fewer transfers in. 

From Shelter Animals Count, May 25, 2023:

Getting (and keeping) dogs out of overburdened shelters is important right now, as data shows that not only are more dogs entering shelters than are leaving, the non-live outcome rate for dogs has nearly doubled (from 5.6% to 10%) when comparing Q1 2021 to Q1 2023. This means nearly twice as many dogs did not leave shelters alive during the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2021. 

READ THE PRESS RELEASE

Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL) is redefining the meaning and importance of quality of life for sheltered dogs across North America. Their playgroup and training seminars, Mentorships, and Shadow Program provide shelter staff and volunteers with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to better support the behavioral wellbeing of the dogs in their care. At the Canine Center Florida, DPFL is working to provide quality of life that often results in live outcomes for at-risk sheltered dogs in need of our specialized training expertise. Finally, through their ever-expanding virtual offerings, DFPL has continued remote support to shelters across the country and anticipates that these long-distance resources will continue beyond the pandemic as a way to expand access to their programming. 

The 2022 Impact Report details DFPL's yearly efforts and includes analysis of the shelter survey responses and a discussion of this year’s developments as well as updates from the Canine Center Florida. 

While our goal in the animal welfare industry is to find pets their forever home, part of that involves reuniting lost pets with their families. Early 2020, Pethealth and PetCo Foundation conducted a study of 1400 shelters in North America to learn more about the number of pets being reunited the previous year.

Here are some highlights: