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Animal Shelters in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Lucy Tang Lucy Tang New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS OD5794

Revenue

$3.5bn

2024

$3.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

85,178

Businesses

14,794

Wages

$X.Xbn

Animal Shelters in the US industry analysis

Animal shelters have faced significant financial strain in recent years resulting from pandemic-induced economic downturns and rising interest rates. The shelters, primarily operating as nonprofits, have seen a drop in donations as corporate profits dwindled and businesses cut back on spending. The financial pressures were compounded as government funding, though essential, remained competitive and often insufficient to meet rising operational costs. Despite these challenges, shelters did see a pandemic boom, where adoptions were up, albeit with tightened budgets and reduced resources. Aided by government stimulus, industry revenue is expected to push up at a CAGR of 2.8% to reach $3.5 billion through 2024, with stagnant growth in 2024 and profit at 2.4%.

Trends and Insights

  • As the economy stabilizes, animal shelters see a rebound in funding driven by improved corporate donations. Financial diversification further strengthens operations and ensures sustainability.
  • Public support for no-kill policies is growing. The societal push for humane animal treatment prompts many shelters to adopt no-kill status. This trend reflects a broader shift towards ethical practices in animal care.
  • High-cost metropolitan areas lead to pet spending. These regions have higher disposable incomes, allowing for increased pet adoption and spending on pet care. This trend reflects the financial capability to invest in pets.
  • Animal shelters face limited competition. However, public opinion on no-kill policies can be a key differentiator, influencing shelter choice and community support.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Animal rescue funding sees recovery as the economy stabilizes

  • Diverse funding streams have supported nonprofit animal shelters. These include contributions from animal welfare advocacy groups, municipalities, and various organizations. Economic fluctuations affect each funding source differently, impacting shelter operations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Animal Shelters in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Technology and data analytics will drive efficiency in shelters

  • Many animal shelters are integrating technology into their operations. Platforms for managing adoptions, health tracking and resource allocation are becoming standard tools.

Biggest companies in the Animal Shelters in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Animal Shelters in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Animal Shelters in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Animal care services, Spay and neutering services and Other medical services. Animal care services is the largest segment of the Animal Shelters in the US.

Trends and Insights

Animal care services

  • Animal care services encompass medical treatments, vaccinations, shelter, food and playtime. Animals received by the shelter are cared for until they are adopted, retrieved by the owner or euthanized.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes establishments that provide a temporary home and care for stray and homeless pets while seeking permanent homes for them.

What's included in this industry?

Providing animal euthanasia Spraying and neutering animal rescues Administering pet care services Giving vaccinations and medications Arranging pet adoption services

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

NO-KILL SHELTERSMICROCHIPPING PETSRADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)SPAY/NEUTER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 81291 - Animal Shelters in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

As the economy stabilizes, animal shelters see a rebound in funding driven by improved corporate donations. Financial diversification further strengthens operations and ensur...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Public support for no-kill policies is growing. The societal push for humane animal treatment prompts many shelters to adopt no-kill status. This trend reflects a broader shi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

High-cost metropolitan areas lead to pet spending. These regions have higher disposable incomes, allowing for increased pet adoption and spending on pet care. This trend refl...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Animal shelters face limited competition. However, public opinion on no-kill policies can be a key differentiator, influencing shelter choice and community support.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is small and fragmented, with most organizations being local nonprofits. Despite its small size, shelters can carve out niches within their communities, allowing...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Revenue typically fluctuates with the business cycle. Animal shelters, being nonprofits heavily reliant on charitable donations and government funding, face financial instabi...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Adoptions may ebb and flow, but wages consistently increase. Wage costs stayed high throughout the pandemic, adding financial stress to shelters, but wages continue to strain...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
    • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
    • Income Statement (2017-2022)
    • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
    • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States in 2024?

    The market size of the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States is $3.5bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Animal Shelters in the US industry in 2024?

    There are 14,794 businesses in the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

    What does the Animal Shelters in the US in United States include?

    Providing animal euthanasia and Spraying and neutering animal rescues are part of the Animal Shelters in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Animal Shelters in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Pet Adoption Services in the US
    • Dog & Pet Breeders in the US

    Complementors

    • Brand Name Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in the US
    • Pet Stores in the US
    • Veterinary Services in the US
    • Pet Grooming & Boarding in the US

    International industries

    • Pet Stores in Canada
    • Pets and Pet Supplies Retailers in Australia
    • Online Pet Food and Pet Supply Sales in Australia
    • Pets & Pet Supplies Retailers in the UK

    View all industries in United States

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the US include: 

    • US Census Bureau
    • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • US International Trade Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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