Executive Summary
This report examines long-term trends in animal shelter operations at the Madera County Animal Shelter using annual aggregate data from 2018 through 2025 obtained through the California Public Records Act. The analysis evaluates changes in shelter intake, animal outcomes, and average length of stay to establish an objective historical record of shelter operations over the eight-year reporting period.
The data show that annual shelter intake declined by 50.3% between 2018 and 2025. During the same period, annual adoptions declined by 69.8%, Other Live Releases declined by 62.0%, and the euthanasia rate increased from 17.7% of annual intake in 2018 to 39.6% in 2025. Average length of stay also declined, indicating that animals generally spent less time in the shelter before reaching an outcome.
This report is descriptive in nature and does not attempt to determine the causes of these trends. Rather, it documents how shelter intake, animal outcomes, and average length of stay changed over time using official records provided by the Madera County Animal Shelter.
Key Findings
- Shelter Intake: Declined by 50.3%
- Annual Adoptions: Declined by 69.8%
- Annual Other Live Releases (including transfers): Declined by 62.0%
- Euthanasia Rate: Increased from 17.7% of intakes in 2018 to 39.6% in 2025.
- Average Length of Stay: Decreased by 35.6%