Shelter Animals Count estimates that US shelters and rescues recorded about 1.90 million dog intakes from January to June 2026, around 0.6% more than in the same months of 2025. Dog adoptions rose slightly to about 1.06 million. Even so, the report estimates roughly 38,000 more dog intakes than outcomes during the period. That gap was about 15,000 larger than in the first half of 2025. The three figures describe different things: arrivals, one route out of care, and the difference between arrivals and all recorded outcome types. Shelter Animals Count midyear summary
Ask the local question
The national estimates combine reporting and statistical methods across organizations. Total intakes include transfers, so don’t read them as a headcount of distinct dogs. The national balance also doesn’t tell you how many kennels are occupied at your local shelter. Use the report’s explorer to see how results vary by region or type of organization and read the methods before comparing like with like. Shelter Animals Count data methods
If you want to help, ask a local organization what it needs now. It might need a foster placement with particular experience, someone to help with transport, or a long-term adopter who can accommodate a certain dog. National figures explain why capacity matters. The shelter can tell you which commitment it can use.
