Statistics and Formulas

Why Statistics?

Tracking numbers is key to the success of any animal welfare organization. Statistics are navigation devices—they tell you where you are, where you’ve been, and what needs to be done to get to where you want to go.

Statistics give an organization an objective standard for measuring results. They provide the tools to determine how well your organization is doing compared to others and compared to your own accomplishments in prior years. As statistics are published, they provide the organizational transparency and measuring stick the public is looking for.

Important statistics for any animal shelter to track are the number of animals coming in and the number of animals going out (via adoption, transfers, returned to owner/guardian, euthanasia, and those that died or were lost in the shelter/care). These numbers tell you how well you’re fulfilling your lifesaving mission.

Collecting Statistics

Step one: Collect statistics for individual organizations using the Asilomar Accords Animal Statistics Table (below). If you’re working in a coalition, or want to see how your community as a whole is doing, you’ll need to have the other organizations within your coalition/community collect their own statistics using the Animal Statistics Table. Once all this data has been gathered, you can compile it into one community/coalition Animal Statistics Table (see below). On the compiled report, “Intake Incoming Transfers from Organizations within the Community/Coalition” (Line C) should equal “Outgoing Transfers to Organizations within the Community/Coalition” (Line J).

Annual Live Release Rate

Step two: Once you’ve gathered your statistics, a number of measurement tools can be used to track and compare your progress. One of these measurement tools is the Annual Live Release Rate (LRR; see below). The LRR is calculated by dividing total live outcomes (adoptions, outgoing transfers, return to owner/guardian) by total outcomes (total live outcomes plus euthanasia not including owner/guardian requested euthanasia which were Unhealthy & Untreatable or died/lost in shelter/care). When calculating the LRR for a community/coalition, transfers within the community/coalition are not included in the formula to avoid double-counting.

The above information was provided by Maddie's Fund.

Annual Animal Statistics Table

Download the template for the annual animal statistics table.

To check the accuracy of the shelter data you've compiled, the Beginning Shelter Count (A) plus the Adjusted Total Intake (H) should equal the Total Outcomes (V) plus the Ending Shelter Count (W): A + H = V + W.

Annual Live Release Rate Formulas

The Annual Live Release Rate is calculated by dividing total live outcomes (adoptions, outgoing transfers, and return to owner/guardian) by total outcomes (total live outcomes plus euthanasia not including owner/guardian requested euthanasia or died/lost in shelter/care).

NOTE: The Annual Live Release Rate Formula is different for an individual agency and a coalition or community due to transfers between agencies.

Calculation for an Individual Agency

Adoptions + All Outgoing Transfers + Return to Owner/Guardian divided by Total Outcomes excluding owner/guardian requested euthanasia (unhealthy and untreatable), and dogs and cats that died or were lost in the shelter/care.

When reporting the Annual Live Release Rate for an individual agency, you should include the following statement: "The Annual Live Release Rate does not include _____ owner/guardian requested euthanasia which were unhealthy & untreatable [see Line R] and _____ dogs and cats that died or were lost in the shelter/care [see Line U]."

Calculation for Community or Coalition

Adoptions + Return to Owner/Guardian divided by Total Outcomes excluding all outgoing transfers, owner/guardian requested euthanasia (unhealthy and untreatable), and dogs and cats that died or were lost in the shelter/care.

When reporting the Annual Live Release Rate for the community or coalition, you should include the following statement: "The Annual Live Release Rate does not include _____ owner/guardian requested euthanasia which were unhealthy & untreatable [see Line R] and _____ dogs and cats that died or were lost in the shelter/care [see Line U]."

Examples of Data to Publish

Individual Agency
Download an individual agency example of the annual animal statistics table and annual live release rate.

Community or Coalition
Download a community or coalition example of the annual animal statistics table and annual live release rate.