2022 national pet shelter data shows there's still work to be done in Lee County

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
·3 min read

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in shelters by 2025, recently released its annual data report which gives the most accurate and comprehensive national overview of the number of dogs and cats that enter and exit shelters in a given year.

The nonprofit partner of animal shelters nationwide seeks to decrease shelter deaths by sharing resources and proving data on no-kill shelters across the nation. They found that last year, 378,000 dogs and cats were euthanized out of the 4 million that entered shelters countrywide.

Florida, considered a high priority state, remained fourth in the country for pet shelters deaths in 2022 for the fifth year in a row. But 64% of Florida Animal Shelters are no-kill, higher than national average

Looking a Southwest Florida, Lee County has four animal shelters. Two are no-kill. Collier County has two shelters and both are no-kill. Here are the Lee County statistics for 2022:

This is a dog that was up for adoption at Gulf Coast Humane Society in Lee County: Florida remained fourth in the country for pet shelters deaths in 2022 for the fifth year in a row.
This is a dog that was up for adoption at Gulf Coast Humane Society in Lee County: Florida remained fourth in the country for pet shelters deaths in 2022 for the fifth year in a row.

Here are Lee County's statistics:

  • Total dogs and cats saved: 10,390

  • Dogs and cats killed: 1,155

  • Total entered: 12,550

  • Total save rate: 82.8%

  • The number of no-kill shelters: 2

  • Total shelters: 4

Lee County's animal shelters

A total of 10,390 dogs and cats were saved in Lee County shelters in 2022.
A total of 10,390 dogs and cats were saved in Lee County shelters in 2022.

Here are Florida's statistics:

  • Total dogs and cats saved: 272,381

  • Dogs and cats killed: 20,653

  • Total entered: 319,077

  • Total save rate: 85.4%

  • The number of no-kill shelters: 85 of 135

What is a 'no-kill' shelter?

According to Best Friends Animal Society, no-kill means saving every dog or cat in a shelter who can be saved. To be considered a no-kill, a shelter or rescue has to have at least a 90% placement rate for the animals in their care.

What Florida counties have reached no-kill status?

There are currently 22 Florida counties that have reached the status of no-kill, with their shelters having a save rate of 90% or higher. Lee County is not on that list. Collier County is.

How can I help animals in my community?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, they recommend those looking to help animals in shelters:

  • Adopt (if you're able to)

  • Donate supplies or cash

  • Volunteer

  • Offer words of encouragement to shelters and rescues

  • Become a foster

  • Like your local animal shelters on social media

  • Create crafts for pets, either fun adoption signs or fun toys

  • Help at home by vaccinating or microchipping pets, keeping them inside

  • Make positive changes within the community by pushing legislation that helps shelters/pets

About the data  For the past seven years, Best Friends has spearheaded a one-of-a-kind extensive data collection process that involves coordinated outreach to every shelter in America followed by additional research, data analysis, and technology development. The dataset is the most comprehensive on U.S. sheltered animals, and is based on data collected directly from shelters, state and local coalitions, government websites, and FOIA requests. From this, 95% of the animal intake in U.S. shelters is known, 5% is estimated. Best Friends has the most recently available annual data for 85% of shelters nationwide.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Data for Lee County florida pet shelter deaths released