New Data Report: Foster-Based Rescues Operations – Shelter Animals Count

Shelter Animals Count has released a new data report analyzing national trends in foster-based rescue operations using software data from Pawlytics. Foster-based rescues account for about 15% of U.S. animal intakes yet achieve a notably high 75% adoption rate, compared with the shelter average of 56%. Intake patterns differ by species: dogs enter rescues primarily through transfers from shelters (51%), while cats are more often taken in as strays (36%), highlighting rescues’ role in reducing overcrowding in brick-and-mortar shelters.

The median length of stay for foster-based rescues is 46 days, which is longer than in shelters but showing year-over-year decline, suggesting growing efficiency. The report aimed to identify operational patterns unique to foster-based rescues, compare length of stay trends, assess the effects of transfers and seasonal fluctuations, and offer data-driven insights to support stronger system-wide collaboration. Findings reflect only the sampled dataset but expand understanding of how foster-based rescues contribute to national animal welfare outcomes.