Executive Summary
Between 2018 and 2025, total animal shelter intakes declined by 50.3%, while City of Madera stray animal intakes increased by 17.5%. As a result, City animals represented a substantially larger proportion of total shelter intakes than they did eight years earlier.
This report examines whether that proportional increase reflects a significant increase in City-related shelter utilization or is primarily attributable to declining intakes from other jurisdictions. The report presents historical intake data and related operational metrics without making policy recommendations.
Key Findings
- Total shelter intakes declined by 50.3% between 2018 and 2025.
- City of Madera stray animal calls increased modestly by 17.5% during the same period.
- Estimated non-City shelter intakes declined by approximately 72.5%, indicating that proportional increases in City-related shelter utilization are impacted exceptionally by decreases in non-City animal intakes.