As Huntsville continues to grow, so does the responsibility of caring for the abandoned or surrendered animals who depend on the community for support. In 2025, Huntsville Animal Services (HAS) focused on expanding community awareness and engagement, strengthening partner organization relationships and using data-driven social media strategies to improve outcomes for adoption and fostering.
Behind the scenes, foster families played a vital role with 931 pets spending time in foster care, including foster placements, sleepovers and dog day-out experiences – accounting for 1,169 individual foster engagements. These temporary homes provided critical support for animals who needed extra care, recovery time or a welcome break from the shelter environment.
“What stands out most in 2025 isn’t just the numbers – it’s the people behind them,” said Huntsville Animal Services Director John Fischer. “From adopters and fosters to rescue partners and volunteers, this community continues to show up for animals in meaningful ways, and that support directly translates into more positive outcomes.”
HAS also supported Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and working cat efforts, assisting 627 cats as part of community-based population management programs.
And in an interesting twist, 2025 also saw HAS rehome six very cool roosters – proving that every animal has a place in our community.
By the Numbers:
- Total intake: 5,542 animals
- 2,950 dogs (↓10.7 percent from 2024)
- 2,592 cats (↑7 percent from 2024)
- Adoption: 2,887 animals
- 1,549 dogs
- 1,338 cats
- Transfers to rescue and rehoming partners: 811 animals (↑35.6 percent)
- Returned to owners (Reunifications): 820 pets
- Including a 30 percent return-to-owner rate for stray dogs, a 26.3 percent increase over 2024
- Sterilizations: 3,693 total
- 2025 saw the highest number of sterilizations in the history of Huntsville Animal Services
- 1,998 cats
- 1,696 dogs
- 9 other animals
“Animal welfare is complex work, and progress doesn’t happen overnight,” Fischer said. “But year over year, we’ve seen measurable improvements – in reunifications, partnerships, and community engagement – and all of it tells us we’re moving in the right direction.”
Other 2025 indicators included the Live Release Rate (LRR) – the formula that accounts for how many animals are returned to their owners, or who leave the shelter via adoption or transfer. Animal shelters across the country rely on LRR to measure their success in saving animals’ lives. These crucial metrics are key indicators of a shelter’s effectiveness. In 2025, the HAS LRR for dogs was 94.6 percent, and 93.81 percent of cats – a very successful year.
HAS also significantly expanded its digital reach in 2025, using social media as a tool for transparency, education and connection. Social content was clever, creative and fun – all key ingredients which captured passionate followers.
- 13,300 new Facebook followers (up from 5,600 in 2024)
- 32.3 million total views and reach
- 674,500 post interactions
The most-loved social post of 2025 was “Bama’s” story which received 9,400 likes, 1,000 shares, and reached more than 260,000 people — a reminder of how one animal’s journey can resonate across an entire community.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As Huntsville Animal Services looks ahead, the focus remains on continuous improvement. In 2026, the department will begin tracking additional surgical and medical metrics beyond sterilizations to further enhance transparency and operational insight. Continued investment in partnerships, foster programs, and public education will remain central to our mission.
“We’ve worked hard to build systems that move animals through care more efficiently while keeping their well-being front and center. The growth we’re seeing reflects a shelter that’s evolving, learning, and responding to the needs of both pets and the community,” Fischer said. “Every adoption, every reunion, every foster placement represents a life changed. We’re proud of what this year’s data shows, but we’re even more proud of the compassion behind it.”
Every number tells a story – but behind each one is an animal, a family and a community that cares. Huntsville Animal Services is proud of the progress made in 2025 and grateful for the support that makes their work possible.
