In order to improve the welfare of companion animals, sheltering organizations need to track information about the animals in their care and make evidence-based decisions. Information about the number of animals in shelters and what the outcome is after they are admitted is also important to the animal welfare community and the public at large.
Humane Canada gathers data on the number of animals entering humane society and SPCA shelters as well as the numbers adopted, returned to their owners or euthanized. This information provides a national picture of the important role shelters play in their communities.
Humane Canada’s Animal Shelter Statistics represent the best available information about companion animals in Canadian shelters. Reports from 2020 and earlier are available for download below, along with a year-by-year comparison document that shows sheltering trends over time.
Click on the images below to download our reports.
2021 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
Download this yearly comparison document to see trends in Canadian sheltering outcomes for cats and dogs over the years.
2020 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
Click on the images to download the print or infographic versions.
2019 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2018 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2017 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
Note that the 2016 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics were published in the Cats in Canada 2017 report, which you can find here. The report includes statistics on both cats and dogs.
2015 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2014 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2013 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2012 Canadian Animal Shelter Statistics Report
Archive
2011 Animal Shelter Statistics Report available in the 2012 Cats in Canada Report
2010 Animal Shelter Statistics Report
2008 Animal Shelter Statistics Report