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ARFC Review and Comparative Analysis Introduction California’s animal shelter system is undergoing significant changes, yet the full impact of those changes is difficult to evaluate without consistent, long-term statewide data. This analysis examines publicly available records, municipal reports, shelter dashboards, and records obtained through public-records requests for three major California shelter systems: Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control, San Jose Animal Care &

Our latest report examines a troubling contradiction in California’s animal welfare system: some major public shelter systems are taking in roughly 40% fewer animals than before COVID, while communities and rescues continue to report an animal overpopulation and capacity crisis. For example, LA County intake declined approximately 42% from 2018–19 to 2024–25, San Jose declined 40%, and SEAACA declined nearly 60% from 2018 to 2024. At the same time, multiple shelters have impl

California Wants More Animal-Welfare Accountability. First, It Needs Reliable Data. For nearly two years, Animal Rescuers For Change (ARFC), a coalition representing more than 100 California rescue organizations, has advocated for one coherent statewide animal welfare system. Long before the Miranda tragedy brought renewed attention to rescue oversight, we were raising structural problems with legislators, stakeholders, the California Department of Justice (regarding the agen

When California discusses animal rescue policy, it is important to understand who California’s rescue organizations actually are. They are not primarily large institutions with substantial staffs, facilities, compliance departments, and multimillion-dollar budgets. Available IRS-derived data paints a very different picture. According to data obtained through CauseIQ and based on publicly available IRS Form 990 information, California has approximately 3,691 registered 501(c)(

California’s animal welfare system spans 58 counties, hundreds of cities, municipal shelters, county shelters, contracted humane societies, nonprofit organizations operating under municipal contracts, and joint-powers agencies. Yet California does not maintain a single comprehensive statewide registry identifying all publicly funded sheltering entities. By comparison, IRS records identify more than 3,600 registered nonprofit animal rescue organizations operating in California

The Dangerous Shift Happening Inside American Shelter Systems A growing question is emerging across animal welfare systems in the United States: At what point does a public service stop functioning as public infrastructure and begin operating like a charity project? That question is becoming increasingly relevant in Los Angeles, where the proposed 2026 animal services budget has triggered concern among rescuers, advocates, and community members nationwide. According to recent

Unregulated animal sales on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Craigslist don’t exist in a vacuum—they create a small set of clear winners, while pushing the real costs onto animals, shelters, rescues, and communities. Here’s the reality, stripped down: 1. Backyard Breeders and High-Volume Sellers — the Primary Beneficiaries These platforms give sellers: Free, massive reach (thousands of buyers instantly) No meaningful identity verification Ability to re-list continuously

Animals are deeply important to many of us, and countless Californians work every day to protect their welfare. We are reaching out with urgency and determination in response to the escalating domestic animal crisis facing our state.

We have a limited window to make an impact. The Federal Trade Commission is now accepting public comments on unregulated online animal sales — and your voice is critical.

Animal Rescuers for Change (ARFC) reviewed trends from three historically high-intake California municipal shelter systems: Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control, San Jose Animal Care & Services, and Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). Across all three systems, the same pattern emerged: Significant reductions in animal intake over time Simultaneous overcrowding and operational crisis Reduced public-facing services and intake accessibility Growing transfer of

San Jose Animal Welfare Crisis: System Failures, Rising Overpopulation, and Declining Shelter Performance San Jose’s Animal Crisis Is Deepening. This report examines the current state of animal welfare in San Jose. The findings point to a system under significant strain: 📉 Shelter performance is declining 📈 Animal overpopulation is rising ⚠️ Systems meant to protect animals are under pressure or failing Key Findings Overcrowded shelter and reduced intakes are pushing respon

California does not appear to have a single officially maintained statewide count of only “public municipal shelters,” partly because systems vary widely: city-run shelters, county shelters, joint powers authority shelters, contracted humane societies, nonprofit-operated municipal contracts, and open-admission vs limited-admission systems. However, the most commonly referenced estimates suggest: roughly 250–330 physical shelter facilities operate in California overall, depend

ARFC reviewed available shelter data, public records, historical trends, and community-reported concerns as part of this analysis. What emerged should concern residents, rescuers, volunteers, taxpayers, policymakers, and city leadership alike. The findings point to a significant shift within San José’s animal services system: reduced prevention resources, increasingly limited shelter intake, and growing responsibility placed on residents, animal finders, and nonprofit rescue

San Jose’s Return-to-Field program is no longer just a narrow tool for healthy adult community cats. It is rapidly expanding — and vulnerable animals are paying the price. Recent data analysis shows that Return-to-Field (RTF) increased by 28,300% since 2021, rising from just 5 animals in 2021 to 1,607 in 2025. These were not simply cats briefly encountered and released. Many were held in shelter custody for days or even weeks before being returned outdoors. The Return-to-Fiel

San Jose’s animal shelter system is facing growing questions over transparency, data integrity, and operational practices, according to a recent compiled from public records, internal reports, and historical datasets. While official figures suggest improvements in key metrics such as intake and live outcomes, a closer review indicates that changes in policy and data reporting may be reshaping how the system is measured—rather than how it performs. Declining Intake, But Not Ne

Over the past two decades, California lawmakers have introduced multiple bills aimed at addressing the root causes of our growing animal welfare crisis—irresponsible breeding, lack of spay/neuter access, and the absence of shelter transparency and data. These bills were thoughtfully crafted to reduce shelter intake, prevent euthanasia, and improve standards of care. Yet one by one, these proposals were shelved, vetoed, or quietly killed in committee—often due to pressure from

Between March 25 and April 7, 2025 , we invited Californians to share their experiences with accessing low-cost spay-neuter and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) services. The response was overwhelming — residents from 34 counties and 97 cities generously participated, offering firsthand insight into the current state of access across the state. What we heard was clear, urgent, and deeply troubling. A staggering 77% of respondents rated their access to low-cost spay-neuter as either

Change starts with us California has long been recognized for its compassionate and progressive approach to social issues. However, the current state of animal welfare, particularly the three year high euthanasia rate and the highest in the US numbers of abandoned animals, calls for urgent attention and action. What can you do as a Californian Constituent for a Change? Many of us feel lost and powerless when confronted with the daily pleas from shelter volunteers and the he

The suspense file hearing in the California Legislature, happening twice a year, determines the fate of numerous bills without public debate, leaving many bill authors and interested parties frustrated. Bills that exceed a certain cost threshold are sent to appropriations committees after passing policy committees. At the suspense hearing, these bills are either advanced for further debate or shelved, with decisions made behind closed doors by key legislative figures. Underst

Problem California has now become the #1 State for most animals euthanized in shelters in America and the #1 State in the homeless animals population. Not a #1 spot to be proud of. High euthanasia rates are back to California municipal shelters after they were thought to be defeated decades back. Yet The Orange County Register’s Teri Sforza reported on data analyzed by a former volunteer and found the “kill rate for adult dogs…has nearly doubled since 2018, and the amount of