Consider adopting a rescue from a Seattle-area animal shelter

It's National Rescue Dog Day and even if you can't take home a permanent companion, making a donation to a shelter or volunteering to walk a dog at one can help.

Why it matters: Even with Seattle's reputation for being one of the nation's best cities for dogs , many shelters in the region are crowded .

By the numbers: As of last week, the Seattle Animal Shelter had 71 dogs, 38 of which were in foster care, said city spokesperson Melissa Mixon.

• Overall, the shelter's intake numbers are going up, mirroring national trends , Mixon told Axios.
• Last year, the shelter took in 2,465 dogs, compared to 1,375 in 2022.

Brushing up against capacity is the new post-COVID normal, Cardin Kennedy, a veterinarian at the Seattle Animal Shelter, told KUOW last month.

• "You talk to pretty much any municipal shelter around the country, and we're dealing with the same problems, really. We're almost always broaching capacity," Kennedy said.

The big picture: In 2023, 3.3 million cats and 3.2 million dogs entered animal shelters and rescue organizations, about the same number as 2022 and up slightly from 2021, according to data from Shelter Animals Count .

• Shelters across the country are full, and are now entering their fourth year of having too many animals and not enough adoptions — especially for dogs.

What to do: Kennedy told KUOW that people who want to adopt a dog should always check local shelters first, even if they have a specific breed in mind.

Before you go: Most local shelters have detailed information on how to adopt, as well as regularly updated lists of available animals.

• Seattle Animal Shelter in Seattle
• Seattle Humane in Bellevue
• Pasado's Safe Haven in Sultan
• Emerald City Pet Rescue in Seattle
• Old Dog Haven in Western Washington
• Regional Animal Services of King County