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Interested in adopting your first shelter pet? Animal advocate offers this advice
Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk Eric Mullin , as published by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC)
· August 14, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Eric Mullin, as published by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 14, 2026 Indexed here Aug 15, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway 8 million cats and dogs were taken in during 2025.
In the US, a significant number of cats and dogs are entering shelters and rescues. 8 million cats and dogs were taken in during 2025. Despite a slight decrease in intakes and a slight increase in adoptions compared to 2024, the overall shelter population saw an increase.
Animal advocate Hannah Shaw, also known as the "Kitten Lady," has experience adopting from shelters herself. She acknowledges that adopting a pet can be a daunting decision, even just visiting a shelter. For those interested in adopting a shelter pet in Los Angeles , further guidance is available from animal advocates like Shaw, who share their expertise to help prospective pet owners make informed decisions.
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About this story
As published by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local Published: August 14, 2026 Source: NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In the US, a significant number of cats and dogs are entering shelters and rescues. According to Shelter Animals Count, 5.8 million cats and dogs were taken in during 2025. Despite a slight decrease…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 14, 2026 by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Eric Mullin at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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