In the United States animal rescue began in 1866 when Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York City. In 1877 the American Humane Society was formed, other rescue organizations followed, and there were anticruelty laws and humane societies formed as well. In 1869, one of the first U.S. animal shelters was established, the Womens SPCA of Pennsylvania. The ASPCA took on the role of sheltering stray dogs and cats in New York city in 1894.
Pet Overpopulation Fact in the U.S.:
• 6-8 million dogs and cats entering shelters each year
• 3-4 million dogs and cats euthanized by shelters each year
• 3-4 million dogs and cats adopted from shelters each year
• 4,000-6,000 animal shelters in the U.S.
• 25% of purebred dogs in shelters
• A female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years
• Between 600,000 and 750,000 dogs and cats reclaimed by owners each year from animal shelters
