At Mars Petcare, we have an ambition to End Pet Homelessness. It’s at the heart of our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. We want to make a better world for all pets, not just the ones we serve.
Yet dogs and cats continue to live on the street without the sustained care and nutrition they need to thrive, or in shelters without a home of their own.
To understand the scale of the problem and the reasons for pet homelessness by country, we partnered with a team of leading animal welfare experts and organizations to develop the State of Pet Homelessness Index.
State of Pet Homelessness Index
224 million
Estimated number of shelter, street or stray dogs and cats in the 9 countries indexed so far
19 million
Estimated cats & dogs in shelters
114 million
Estimated street or stray cats
91 million
Estimated street or stray dogs
Using data from more than 200 global and local sources boosted by quantitative research on widespread attitudes, the Index measures the scale of pet homelessness and identifies the top factors in each country influencing why cats and dogs become, or remain, homeless.
Select a country below to explore the data
The Index covers 9 countries at this point
Meeting the Challenge
Discover a range of programs working to End Pet Homelessness around the world and learn how you can make a difference.
Better Cities for Pets
Helping to build more pet-friendly cities to keep people and pets together.
Find out moreOpens a new window
Pedigree Foundation
Dedicated to helping dogs in need find loving homes.
Find out moreOpens a new window
Banfield Foundation
Funds programs that provide veterinary care and disaster relief for pets in need.
Find out moreOpens a new windowWhat do you want to do?
Have data that would help improve the Index? Get in touch
Driven by our Purpose
Here are some of the ways our Mars Petcare Associates are helping to End Pet Homelessness:
Catalina Ocampo is a Cat and Dog Methodology Specialist based in Mars Petcare Mexico. She visits schools to teach students the importance of responsible pet ownership.
Read MoreOpens a new window
Brent Mayabb, from Royal Canin US, volunteers at local vaccination clinics to give vulnerable people access to preventive care for their pets.
Read MoreOpens a new window
Larisa Kornienko gathers Mars Petcare Associates in Russia to volunteer and organize pet food donations to local pet shelters in need.
Read MoreOpens a new window