More than 1.7 million U.S. pets were reported missing in 2024, and just over half of them were successfully recovered, according to Pet911.
Many pets that are not quickly reunited with their owners end up in animal shelters, where their care becomes a financial burden on local governments. According to Pet911 and the Dakin Humane Society in Massachusetts, the average cost to care for a sheltered pet reached $950 in 2024 due to inflation and the need for specialized care.
Pet911, which maintains a database of lost and found pets, analyzed data from its website and other sources to identify key patterns and insights.
Of the pets reported lost, 72% were dogs and 20% were cats. Other species, including birds, rabbits, turtles, horses and ferrets, comprised the remaining 8%, or 142,135 animals.
The data also showed that 52% of lost dogs were male and 48% were female. Similarly, 51% of lost cats were male and 49% were female.
Of the missing pets, 63% of dogs and 52% of cats were recovered. According to Pet911, the disparity is likely because dogs are more visible and active during the daytime and more likely to interact with people than cats, who often hide.
One in three lost dogs was from a rural state.
“The expansive landscapes of rural America seem to entice dogs to venture farther from home in search of adventure,” Pet911 stated. “Unfortunately, when pets do go missing in these areas, the sheer size of the search territory makes recovery particularly challenging, even for the most dedicated owners.”
Other insights from the report, posted at bit.ly/4iZ7te2, include:
- Texas reported the most lost dogs at 82,515.
- New Jersey had the most lost cats at 18,580.
- More than 40% of pet losses occurred during July.
- 45% of dogs and 40% of cats went missing during the summer.
- 7% of dogs and 8% of cats went missing during the winter.
- Pets were most likely to go missing on a Friday.
- Huskies, Chihuahuas, German shepherds, pit bulls and Labradors were the most common dog breeds reported missing.