Today, the vast majority of shelters in the United States perform euthanasia by injection. By the 1970s, the Humane Society estimated that 25 percent of the nation's dogs were out on the streets and that 13.5 million animals were euthanized in shelters each year (some argue that number was much higher).

Do shelters really kill dogs?

Every year, about 6.5 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters. Of those 6.5 million, 1.5 million are euthanized. ... Some shelters save all animals while others euthanize up to 10 percent. Both are considered “no-kill” because the general consensus of no-kill shelters is that 90 percent of animals will be adopted.

How many dogs are killed each day in shelters?

According to a petition written by Best Friends Animal Society, 5,500 animals are killed in shelters across America every single day. That means over two million innocent lives are cut short each year.