Thousands of dogs and cats are still being euthanized every year at animal shelters in New Jersey, state data shows.
Every year, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) conducts a voluntary survey among the state's licensed animal shelters. This document – the "Shelter/Pound Annual Report" – includes intake, adoption and euthanasia numbers.
The NJDOH recently released statistics for 2025. See the county-by-county totals here.
A total of 14,497 dogs and 25,861 cats were impounded at shelters across New Jersey last year. Most of these animals were eventually reunited with their owners or adopted to new families. A total of 5,113 dogs and 1,386 cats were "redeemed" by owners. Meanwhile, 7,177 dogs and 15,261 cats were adopted.
For others, the end of the road was much grimmer.
New Jersey shelters euthanized 862 dogs and 2,657 cats in 2025, data shows – about nine percent of all intakes.
Last year's kill rate in New Jersey was the same as 2024, when 3,307 dogs and cats were euthanized.
The NJDOH includes the following disclaimer about the yearly report:
"This is a voluntary survey of impoundment facilities and does not include responses from all such facilities in New Jersey. Facilities may contract with municipalities in more than one county; therefore, individual county statistics on this report may not accurately reflect impoundment rates within that county. Intake column numbers are a sum of animals surrendered by owner, stray/impounded animals, animals received from other shelters/pounds/rescues, and those acquired by other means (i.e. cruelty investigations, animals born, animal bite cases.)"
The Garden State's euthanasia rate is similar to national statistics reported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
MISSING NUMBERS
It's likely that New Jersey's actual numbers are significantly higher than the data shows. A total of 42 facilities reported in 2025: down from 54 in 2024. Some counties had several shelters that didn't report statistics last year – and others have no data at all.
Some advocates have called for better monitoring in New Jersey, which has upwards of 100 licensed shelters across the state.
In 2024, records from the New Jersey Department of Health indicated that fewer than 50 percent of the shelters and pounds in New Jersey submitted data, the Canine Corner reported, warning of the consequences:
"When participation falls below this threshold, statewide figures no longer reflect reality. Trends may appear artificially stable or improved, while serious operational, public health, or animal welfare issues remain undocumented… Overcrowding, elevated euthanasia rates, disease outbreaks, and operational failures can remain hidden simply because the data was never shared. This lack of transparency also undermines public trust, leaving taxpayers and municipal officials without basic information about how animals are handled in publicly funded or publicly authorized facilities."
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NATIONAL STATISTICS
Nationally, the number of animals entering U.S. shelters has declined slightly compared to previous years, according to the ASPCA.
However, many shelters still have too many animals and not enough outcomes. Shelters also face additional challenges, such as staffing and veterinarian shortages and an increasing proportion of animals with greater medical and behavioral needs.
"Most animals entering shelters in 2025 continued to come in as strays (59%), followed by pets surrendered by their owners (30%)," the nonprofit says. "These patterns are consistent with prior years and reflect ongoing challenges in keeping pets with their families, especially when communities lack access to veterinary care, pet-friendly housing or behavioral support."
Shelters continue to report longer lengths of stay – especially for large dogs, the ASPCA said.
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