Dogs And Cats -

Effective reporting is critical for animal safety and public health. 2025 Annual Data Report - Shelter Animals Count

as of early 2026. While often viewed as opposites, these species share a deep evolutionary and social history with humans, though their contemporary roles and needs differ significantly. Dogs and cats

: Dogs belong to the Caniformia (dog-like) suborder, making them more closely related to bears and walruses than to cats. Cats belong to the Feliformia (cat-like) suborder, sharing more recent ancestry with hyenas and mongooses. Effective reporting is critical for animal safety and

: Dogs were domesticated roughly 40,000 years ago as hunting partners. Cats domesticated themselves approximately 12,000 years ago, following the rise of agriculture to hunt rodents in grain stores. : Dogs belong to the Caniformia (dog-like) suborder,

: A deepening human-animal bond is driving the "humanization" of pets, where they are treated as full family members.

Pets returned to their owners decreased by 3% compared to 2024. In 2025, 638,000 dogs and cats were returned to their owners, a 3% Shelter Animals Count