WeRescue adoption data
WeRescue lists adoptable pets from shelters and rescues across the US. Here's how long the 57,320 dogs and cats listed by 1,242 of them had been waiting for a home on November 14, 2026.
Among dogs, the older the dog, the longer the wait. Among cats, adults wait longest of all, even longer than seniors.
Median days since each pet was first listed. Half of the pets in each group have waited longer.
Breeds with at least 300 dogs listed, by the shelter's primary breed.
"Shepherd mix" and "Hound mix" are how shelters label dogs without a specific breed. Pit Bull Terrier includes American Pit Bull Terrier.
There's a long-standing belief that black cats are passed over. In our listings they aren't: solid black cats had waited a median of 38 days, against 39 days for other cats.
That holds like for like. Comparing black cats with other cats of the same age group at the same shelter, black cats had waited longer in 37 comparisons and less in 42, across 49 shelters.
Many shelters list a cat's coat pattern (tabby, tuxedo) as its breed.
Based on 593 black cats and 3,001 other cats at 80 shelters that record coat color. "Black" means solid black; black-and-white cats count as other.
You're welcome to use these figures in articles and research. Please credit WeRescue and link to this page:
Source: WeRescue (werescue.pet/adoption-data)
Licensed CC BY 4.0. Figures as of November 14, 2026.
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