Special to the Herald
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters in 2025, released new data showing Florida saw a decrease in pet lifesaving compared to the previous year.
The overall save rate in Florida dropped to 84 percent in 2023 from 85 percent in 2022. While more cats are killed in Florida than dogs—just over 14,000 cats compared to just over 10,000 dogs in 2023— the biggest lifesaving setbacks of 2023 were seen for dogs. The dog save rate dropped from 86% in 2022 to 83% in 2023, resulting in more than 3,000 dogs being unnecessarily killed.
“While Florida is the fourth highest killing state in the country, several efforts were made to come together and find new collaborative partnerships to aid lifesaving in the state,” said Audrey Lodato, Senior Regional Director, Best Friends Animal Society. “For example, Jacksonville Humane Society, in support with Florida Leaders in lifesaving, has become a Best Friends Super Mentor. This partnership will use a $2.7 million budget, their knowledge in implementing proven strategies, and lifesaving programs to assist several shelters throughout the state in increasing their lifesaving efforts.”
Nationally, 2.3 million dogs and cats were adopted in 2023. Best Friends data shows that pet adoption steadily declined over the last five years, while shelter intakes increased as more people acquired pets from breeders at pet stores. The net result is that 415,000 adoptable pets were unnecessarily killed in shelters last year.
“Roughly 7 million people in America are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just 6 percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society.
To inspire those looking to add a pet to their home by choosing adoption, Best Friends recently kicked off their largest national campaign built upon the foundation that pets belong in homes not shelters. The ‘Bring Love Home’ campaign will bring awareness to the dogs and cats still being killed in shelters throughout the country simply because they don’t have safe places to call home.
Individuals can help save lives by choosing to adopt from a shelter or rescue group instead of purchasing from a breeder or store. Even if someone isn’t looking to add a new pet to their family, everyone can help end shelter killing by spaying or neutering their pets, fostering kittens or an adult dog, volunteering, donating for proven lifesaving programming for pets.
