Overview

• Refusals involved about 19,700 cats and 18,500 dogs, according to the SPA and the Affinity (Ultima) foundation.
• Associations still took in more than 108,000 animals over the year, with cats accounting for 77% of admissions.
• Around half of the cats admitted were strays, compared with about 30% of the dogs.
• The report says dogs are proportionally more likely to be left without a solution because fewer facilities can house medium or large, adult dogs.
• Shelter leaders describe moral distress and operational strain from having to refuse or defer intake requests.