How many are destroyed?

The following article is from AC- Associated Content. It gives us an idea of how many animals are euthanized. It is very disturbing.

April 27, 2006

Why it is so Important to Consider Adopting Your Next Pet from a Shelter

It is widely accepted that 9.6 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States.

Accurate record keeping is impossible at this time, due to the sheer number of animals handled and emergency shelters opening and closing daily. However, based on the only known statistics that the American Humane Society has recognized to date, the 1997

National Counsel On Pet Population And Study, of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled. In 1997 roughly 64% of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized - approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters. These animals may have been put down due to overcrowding, but may have been sick, aggressive, injured, or suffered something else. A staggering 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification. Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners. Only 25% of dogs and 24% of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.