Shattering the Myths About Animal Shelters and the Pets They Care For

By Elle McCall, President of The Adopt Don't Shop Movement

As someone who has volunteered and consulted for animal shelters for over 10 years, I’ve heard the same tired myths over and over and I’m ready to set the record straight.

Too often, people imagine shelters as sad, uncaring places where animals are neglected. In reality, shelters save thousands of lives every single year. Without them, countless dogs and cats would be left to fend for themselves on the streets, facing hunger, illness, injury, and danger.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. shelters every year. Of those, about 1.5 million are euthanized, not because they’re “unwanted,” but because shelters are overburdened and under-resourced. Shelter-animal euthanasia has decreased in recent years—from around 13% in 2019 to 8% in 2024. These numbers are steadily improving thanks to adoption programs, outreach, and spay/neuter efforts.

Shelters do far more than provide a roof over an animal’s head. They offer medical care, nutritious food, safety, and a pathway to adoption. They reduce future homelessness through spay/neuter programs. Spay/Neuter programs are critical in our society when an estimated 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the U.S. Without shelters, the overpopulation crisis would be far worse.

But shelters cannot do this work alone. They rely on their communities for support through adoptions, donations, volunteering, and advocacy.

In 2024, approximately 6.5 million dogs and cats entered U.S. animal shelters and rescues, while about 4.8 million of these animals were adopted. With greater community involvement, those numbers can grow—and more lives can be saved.

The stigma surrounding shelters is not only unfair—it’s harmful. It discourages adoptions, paints shelter pets as “less than" or "broken", and makes it harder for animals to find the loving, forever homes they all deserve. Some of the most incredible pets you’ll ever meet are waiting in shelters right now. I know this firsthand as I’ve adopted several amazing dogs from my local shelter, each of them bringing joy, loyalty, and love beyond measure.

If we want a future where every animal has a home, we must shift our perspective. Respect the work shelters do. Share their stories. Support them with time, resources, and advocacy. Most importantly, choose adoption and encourage others to do the same.

Shelters aren’t the problem. They’re part of the solution. And with community support, they can continue saving lives every single day. Adopt from your local shelter.

Join Us in Changing the Story for Shelter Pets

Everything we do at The Adopt Don't Shop MVMT is to make adoption the only option. By learning, sharing, and acting, you can help rewrite the future for countless animals in need.

The Adopt Don’t Shop Movement is a growing community of passionate animal welfare advocates working toward one powerful vision: to make adoption the only option. We believe that every homeless pet deserves a second chance and that the adoption journey should be accessible, heart-centered, and truly transformative.

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