Explore the most common reasons animals enter shelters, euthanasia trends, species and breed-specific intake data, spay and neuter metrics, average length of stay, and more. The AWDC Data Portal is regularly updated with the latest information provided by public agencies—giving you access to timely, transparent, and impactful animal welfare data.
We use the Public Records Act (PRA) to request public data directly from the government agencies we aim to support, such as public animal shelters, county departments, city appointed commissions, and more.
Our data analysis approach transforms public data into actionable insights that can drive positive change in both animal welfare and human welfare policies, working with community stakeholders to design research objectives.
We create technology-powered solutions to improve animal and human welfare. From software applications and data portals, to comprehensive analysis and research publications.
AWDC’s work focuses on what’s often invisible to the public: how unreliable, or incomplete data can undermine even the most dedicated shelter teams. AWDC goes beyond counting outcomes– it works to understand the full shelter lifecycle, assess quality of care, and evaluate the effectiveness of life-saving programs relative to available resources.
California is experiencing a severe animal abandonment and neglect crisis, and we’re launching a data-driven initiative to evaluate the state’s animal public animal care and control system. We’re analyzing public shelter data to select facilities across California for focused research, examining key metrics:
Based on our findings, we’re delivering detailed analysis reports, corrective action plans, and targeted solutions to local government agencies for implementing essential reforms.
Phase 1 – Local Government Engagement: Present findings and remediation plans to local government agencies responsible for each shelter.
Phase 2 – State Emergency Declaration: Seek support from local leaders to request a state of emergency declaration from the Governor of California, enabling the state to take decisive action in implementing new policies.
Phase 3 – Escalation Protocol: If local support is not secured, escalate findings to the California Attorney General, including documentation of: public safety concerns, public health risks, misallocation of taxpayer resources, evidence of departmental negligence, previous attempts to address issues at local level.
*Our Data Science team is actively working on cleaning, preparing, and loading data into AWDC’s centralized database for ongoing analysis. The amount of data we are analyzing will grow over time.
Overcrowded living conditions and limited resources negatively affect animals’ behavior, physical health, and mental well-being. The strain on resources, combined with outdated policies, forces shelter staff to make difficult decisions that can lead to unintended negligence, lower quality standards, declining staff mental health, and declining trust from their community.
Public animal shelters operating outside of their capacity for care can create a substantial financial drain on taxpayers through increased operational costs, health risks, legal liabilities, property devaluation, and administrative inefficiencies.
Research has shown that areas with high rates of animal cruelty and neglect often see corresponding increases in domestic violence, child abuse, and other violent crimes, as perpetrators who harm animals frequently target humans as well.
Additionally, the rendering industry’s practice of processing euthanized shelter animals into consumer products poses serious ethical and public health concerns that many residents remain unaware of, highlighting a critical issue that requires government intervention.
By gathering data directly from the public shelter programs we aim to support and community insights, our team of analysts and data scientists helps decision-makers understand how current shelter systems affect their communities. This evidence-based approach enables informed policy decisions that benefit both animals and humans in our society. Some of our target analysis objectives are:
Leveraging geographic and demographic data to understand why and where animals enter the shelter system, helping agencies develop targeted interventions and community support programs to address issues at their source.
Using historical data and machine learning to forecast intake patterns, enabling proactive resource allocation, and help shelters prepare for seasons fluctuations or community-specific trends in animal surrenders.
Analyzing operational data to identify inefficiencies in staff scheduling, supply management, and facility utilization, leading to more cost-effective and efficient shelter operations.
Implementing data-driven health monitoring systems to track disease outbreaks, identify risk factors, and develop preventive protocols that protect both sheltered animals and the community’s pet population.
Using statistical analysis to evaluate the success rates of various programs (adoption, foster, TNR), enabling evidence-based decisions about which initiatives deserve expanded funding and support.
We’ve developed a Data Portal to visualize and breakdown detailed shelter data like intake and outcome analysis by species, intake volume trends, length of stay per outcome, spay and neuter statistics on animals leaving the shelter, and our Data Science team is making continuous improvements to add more metrics and visualizations based on community feedback. Visit the Data Portal to see what insights are available and what more you would like to learn from the public animal shelter data.
We are working directly with state regulating entities to push for process improvement in the animal care & control system. Report an incident using the button below if you have observed or been involved in a situation with a local animal shelter that you believe posed risk to an animal's health and safety.
Report an incidentDiscover impactful volunteer roles at the Animal Welfare Data Center, dedicated to analyzing and publishing data for systemic improvements in California's public animal shelter system.
Technical and non-technical positions are available for entry-level, mid-level, and senior level professionals.
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If you share our passion for animal welfare and want to get involved in our efforts, we encourage you to report any incidents you have observed or experienced using our incident form or you can reach out to learn more about how you can help. Join us in our mission to improve the welfare of animals and make a lasting impact on the lives of our companions. Some examples of incidents you can report are:
While there is public information about the animal and human homelessness crisis, ongoing initiatives, and ways to get involved, finding the right resources can be challenging. You can submit questions through our website, and our team will respond with relevant resources if we can. We welcome community questions and feedback, so we can share these concerns with public decision-makers.