Dallas Animal Services has recorded more than 123,000 pet adoptions over the past two decades, with dogs consistently making up nearly 72% of animals adopted from the city’s shelters. The department’s data, which dates back more than 20 years, reveals a steady preference for canine companions among Dallas residents.
Amanda Earl, assistant director of operations for Dallas Animal Services, noted that the city’s shelter ranks among the top five municipal adoption agencies nationwide. While dogs dominate adoption numbers, a variety of other animals—including cats, rabbits, hedgehogs, and even pot-bellied pigs—have also found new homes through the city’s facilities.
Analysis of adoption records since 2005 shows that mixed-breed dogs are the most frequently adopted, accounting for approximately 21% of all dog adoptions. Among identified breeds, pitbulls lead with 12% of adoptions, followed by chihuahuas at just over 11% when combining long-haired and short-haired varieties. Labrador retrievers follow closely behind, representing slightly less than 11% of dog adoptions. “They’re the highest number of animals that we have, period,” Earl said of pitbulls.
Although dogs predominate, cats have seen increasing popularity in recent years. In 2025, cats comprised nearly 38% of total adoptions, a record high. Earl attributed the rise, in part, to fewer landlord restrictions on cats and the lower costs associated with cat ownership. “The economy has a lot to do with it,” she added.
Among cats with a specifically identified breed, Siamese cats are the most commonly adopted, outpacing Russian Blues and Maine Coons by a wide margin. However, only about 3% of the more than 30,000 cat adoptions recorded since 2005 specify a breed, reflecting a greater prevalence of mixed or unknown lineage among feline adoptions.
Adoption activity typically peaks during the summer months, with a smaller surge around the Christmas season. June stands out as the only month in which cats account for as much as one-third of total adoptions.
The past five full years have been the strongest for shelter adoptions in Dallas, all occurring post-2017. Even with part of 2026 remaining, the current year is on track to rank 14th among the last 22 years in total adoptions. The city has also seen its five busiest single adoption days take place since early 2023, although Dallas Animal Services communications manager Julie Silva indicated there is no known connection between these spikes and specific promotional events.
Dallas’s shelter data does not include adoptions from private or nonprofit organizations. According to city policies, all adoptions through Dallas Animal Services are free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Potential adopters must be at least 18 years old and provide valid identification. Animals leaving city shelters are typically vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. The shelter remains open daily to accommodate prospective pet owners.