Inside this Issue:

• Special announcement!

• Fundraising resources

• Trends analysis

• Legislative updates

• A treat at the end to brighten your day

• What other content would you like to see? Reply to this email and share your thoughts.

We’re Thrilled to Announce Our New App - Rover Alert

Rover Alert is a free smartphone app that lets users report a lost pet or foster, and anyone within a few miles with the app installed will be alerted. Recovering a foster that has run off requires an immediate response, but most rescues rely on email alerts and social media. This approach has significant limitations. We built this app to address a challenge I’ve experienced firsthand when fostering rescues. Here are links to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to download the app.

If your rescue has a foster network, we recommend asking all foster families to install the app so you have a broad network of people who can receive your alerts.

Fundraising Resources

I’ve partnered with MyGivingCircle and am excited to share this powerful fundraising platform with you.

Why is this a game-changer for animal rescues?

Over $2 million in grants and donations is distributed annually through the platform, with a strong focus on animal charities and rescues.

Grow donations and monthly giving.

Engage your existing supporters and turn them into regular donors through a platform designed for community engagement, recurring giving, and strong advocacy.

Reach new supporters who love animals.

MyGivingCircle actively promotes featured rescues to a global audience of animal lovers — helping you find new supporters and donors, not just manage the ones you already have.  They have a database of 2m+ animal lovers and are growing.

No up-front or recurring costs.

It’s free to join, with no contracts, no setup cost, and zero technical work required — your time stays where it matters most.

With year-end fundraising in full swing, now is the perfect time to register your rescue and start building momentum!

Learn more and register your rescue for free here:

I’ve partnered with FundraiseUp for several years now and am excited to share this fantastic resource with you. Why is this an ideal fundraising tool for animal rescues?

Maximize online donation revenue.

Achieve 3x larger donations with a 30% conversion rate—compared to the 12% industry average.

Grow recurring giving.

Enhance the donor experience and reach a 76% retention rate for recurring donors with an AI-optimized checkout, exceeding the 60% industry average.

Refocus on the mission.

No contract, no monthly fees, and no setup costs means more resources for what matters most.

With the year-end fundraising season just around the corner, this is the perfect time to sign up! Did I mention it’s also easy to set up?

Learn more about their service, and request more information here:

I only recommend products that I have personally used and truly endorse. I receive a small commission for referring FundraiseUp. I’m confident that you will be glad you tried them out.

Trends analysis

Current Shelter Population Data (2025 Mid-Year)

Between January and June 2025, approximately 2.8 million cats and dogs entered animal shelters and rescue organizations, a 4% decrease from the same period in 2024. Shelter Animals Count Adoptions decreased slightly, with nearly 1.9 million animals adopted in the first half of 2025—down 1% from the prior year. Shelter Animals Count

Despite lower intake, many organizations continue operating at or above capacity, struggling to move animals through the system efficiently. PetfoodIndustry

The Large Dog Problem

This one's significant for content targeting: While large and medium dogs had adoption decreases (9% and 3% respectively), adoptions increased for small dogs (6%). Similarly, fewer adult and senior dogs have been adopted (6% and 2% decreases respectively), while juvenile dogs saw an increase in adoption numbers (6%). Shelter Animals Count

Large dogs make up the smallest share of all stray dog intakes (29%) yet the largest share of all pets returned to their owners (41%). This trend highlights the importance of return-to-owner efforts for large dogs, who already tend to stay longer in shelters. Shelter Animals Count

Euthanasia Trends—Some Positive News

For dogs, it's the first lifesaving improvement since the pandemic—an incredible 20% decrease in the number of dogs killed. Killing for cats decreased by 18%, indicating that the positive momentum in cat lifesaving from 2024 is continuing. Best Friends Animal Society

Since 2016, the national save rate has increased from 71% to 83%. Increasing the national save rate from 71% to 83% since 2016 means that an extra 3.7 million cats and dogs have been saved in just eight years. Best Friends Animal Society

The Core Challenges

Staffing & Veterinary Shortages: Many shelters are struggling with staffing and veterinarian shortages, and too few adoptions. Shelter Animals Count

Economic Pressures: Rising costs for pet care (food, vet services, emergency treatment) push some owners to relinquish dogs they can't afford to keep. Economic hardship remains one of the most common reasons owners list when surrendering a dog. The Woof

Millions of animals are stuck in increasingly cramped shelters because their owners are struggling to pay rising vet bills and other expenses. NBC News

Surrender Reasons: Approximately 30% of animals in shelters are brought in by their owners, often due to unavoidable life circumstances. Housing issues account for 13.7% of surrenders, followed by financial challenges (7.2%) and family health problems (10.1%). PetRadar

The Housing Barrier—A Major Driver

72% of renters report difficulty finding pet-friendly housing, and 59% say it's unaffordable, despite 76% of housing providers identifying their properties as pet-friendly. Petsandhousing

More than 80% of dog owners reported difficulty securing housing, leading many to rehome their pets, misclassify them as emotional support animals, or hide them. Found Animals

80% of properties that allow pets still enforce breed restrictions, and 64% impose weight limits. Fewer than 11% of rental properties in major U.S. markets qualify as truly pet-inclusive. Michelsonphilanthropies

Legislative Progress: Washington D.C. passed "Roscoe's Law"—effective October 2025, pet-related fees will be capped (deposits at 15% of rent, pet rent at 1%), and by October 2026, landlords will no longer be permitted to impose breed, weight or size restrictions on pet-friendly rental units. Humane World for Animals

What's Working

Return-to-Field (RTF) programs are growing, and are likely responsible for some of the lifesaving gains for cats. From January-June 2025, there was a 9.6% increase in RTF over January-June 2024. Best Friends Animal Society

Foster-based rescues had the highest proportion of adoptions at 30%, while government shelters adopted out 27%. Shelter Animals Count

In recent years, many animal shelters have put more resources into pet food pantries, low or no-cost veterinary services, pet-friendly housing support and other programs. Humane World for Animals

Legislative and policy updates

There has been significant activity on the animal welfare front since November. Here's a roundup of the key developments:

U.S. Federal Policy

USDA Enforcement Decline: Following the Supreme Court's June 2024 decision in SEC v. Jarkesy, USDA-APHIS has largely abandoned using fines to address Animal Welfare Act violations, instead issuing official warnings that lack meaningful repercussions. In the 14 months following this decision, USDA-APHIS levied just five fines, including only one since the second Trump administration took office in January 2025.

The agency has also experienced significant staffing cuts—as of March 2025, Animal Care employed 191 staff including 115 inspectors, down from 221 total employees with 130 inspectors in FY2024.

Pending Federal Bills (119th Congress):

• Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112 / S. 1538) would expand enforcement capabilities by enabling the Attorney General to collaborate with USDA on federal cases

• Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 2253) would set improved standards for puppy mills

• SAFE Act of 2025 would prohibit equine slaughter for human consumption

• Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2025 (H.R. 1477) would establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within DOJ

State-Level Legislation

In April 2025, the New York State Senate passed a package of animal welfare bills including measures to prohibit insurance restrictions based on dog breeds, ban wild animals in traveling acts, restrict devocalization to medical necessity, and enhance penalties for animal fighting.

Several state laws took effect in early 2025, including Washington's Humane Cosmetics Act (the 12th such state law), Massachusetts's ban on using elephants, big cats, and primates in traveling shows, and a Minnesota fur farming registration requirement.

European Union

On November 25, 2025, the EU Council and Parliament reached a provisional deal establishing the first-ever uniform EU standards for the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs—covering breeding limits, prohibitions on inbreeding, and requirements to exclude animals with extreme traits from breeding.

Poland became the 24th European country to end fur farming in December 2025, and MEPs are pushing for an EU-wide fur farming ban.

The European Commission also ran a public consultation on farm animal welfare reform through December 12, 2025, as part of its broader legislative revision efforts.

Your smile for today

Thank you!

Thank you for reading. We’d love to hear your suggestions. What content would be most useful to you as an animal welfare professional?